| Matt Cavagnaro was named the Big Ten Player of the Week after hitting .421 in Penn State's first four games. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; February 20, 2007 - Matt Cavagnaro (Brightwaters, N.Y.) was named the Big Ten Player of the Week while Scott Gaffney (Westbury, N.Y.) was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, giving Penn State a sweep of the conferences?? weekly awards for this week. Both turned in outstanding performances in Penn State??s opening weekend of play in Shreveport, La. this past weekend.
Cavagnaro hit .421 (8-for-19) in Penn State??s four games. The senior from Brightwaters, N.Y. hit in all four games, which included three multiple-hit games and a three-hit game. He now has a seven-game hitting streak dating back to the final three games of last season. Cavagnaro also knocked in two RBI, had a run scored, a double and nine total bases on the weekend. Also noteworthy was that he was perfect in the field in 17 total chances and he has now been perfect is his last 88 fielding chances dating back to last year as well.
Gaffney started and won Sunday??s 7-6 victory over Centenary for Penn State??s first win of the year. It was the first pitching start of his collegiate career and his first start since he was 12 years old in Little League. Gaffney, who is also the team??s starting shortstop and who had just 12 pitching appearances in his first two years at Penn State, all in relief, pitched six solid innings against the Gents, allowing just three runs, eight hits, all of which were singles, and struck out five while walking three. He left the game with a 6-3 lead.
Penn State will take this coming weekend off before returning to action March 2-4 at North Carolina.