BOSTON – UAlbany, UMBC and UMass Lowell finished last week with winning records on the diamond.
The Great Danes went 4-0 against Fairleigh Dickinson and Iona and have now won eight in a row after starting the season 0-3. The Retrievers swept a four-game series against Niagara while the River Hawks took won a pair of games against Central Michigan.
The preseason poll was announced on Feb. 4.
Fans will once again be able to watch the majority of #AEBASE this season. Select games will air on The AE on ESPN while others will air on AmericaEast.TV. Those games will be available on computers, OTT devices and the brand new America East app, which is available on all IOS and Android devices and can be found by searching ‘America East Conference’ in app stores.
Follow the @AEGameDay Twitter account to stay up-to-date on America East baseball news all season long and use #AEBASE to join the conversation.
#AEBASE Weekly Award Winners – Mar. 8
Player of the Week
Jason Bottari, UAlbany – Jr., CF, North Massapequa, N.Y.
- Drove in nine runs and scored eight in perfect 4-0 week for UAlbany.
- Stole six bases – all in three-game sweep of Iona.
- Bottari is the second consecutive Great Dane to earn Player of the Week honors, receiving the first of his career.
Pitcher of the Week
Grant Vurpillat, NJIT – Sr., LHP, Ladera Ranch, Calif.
- Tossed 6.2 scoreless innings in win over Norfolk State.
- Vurpillat struck out nine without allowing a walk.
- This is his first career weekly honor.
Rookie of the Week
Brandon Fish, UMass Lowell – Fr., Infielder, Londonderry, N.H.
- Drove in six runs and crossed the plate twice in 2-1 week.
- Fish compiled a .818 slugging percentage led by a home run and a pair of doubles.
- This is his first career #AEBASE weekly honor.
2022 #AEBASE Weekly Award Winners
Feb. 22 – Player: David Marcano, NJIT; Pitcher; Ryan Fischer, NJIT; Rookie: Colton Book, Stony Brook
Mar. 1 – Player: Brad Malm, UAlbany; Pitcher: Thomas Babalis, Binghamton; Rookie: Adam Kuzmicki, Stony Brook
Mar. 8 – Player: Jason Bottari, UAlbany; Pitcher: Grant Vurpillat, NJIT; Rookie: Brandon Fish, UMass Lowell
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