Gasper, Theetge pick up NEC weekly honors
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) and sophomore Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) were both recognized by the Northeast Conference on Monday after helping the Bryant University baseball team to five wins last week, including a four-game sweep of Mount St. Mary's.
Gasper was named the NEC Co-Player of the Week on Monday, while Theetge picked up pitcher of the week honors. It is the second honor in three weeks and third overall for Gasper this year. Theetge was also named pitcher of the week on Apr. 24.
Gaper nearly impossible to get out in Bryant's four-game series against Mount St. Mary's, reaching safely in 15 of his 17 plate appearances. He started the series by reaching safely in each of his first 13 at-bats, just three shy of the program record that Kevin Brown set in 2013. Gasper went 8-for-8 with four walks and a hit by pitch in his first 13 at-bats before reaching on a fielder's choice in Sunday's series finale. He finished the weekend 8-for-10 and posted an OBP of .882. Gasper posted a career-high five hits in the series opener with Mount and also delivered a game-tying RBI single in the seventh inning of Bryant's midweek win over Northeastern.
While Gasper was impossible to get out, Theetge was nearly unhittable in the second game of the weekend series. He tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead the Bulldogs to an 11-0 victory. Theetge allowed a bunt single to start the game and then with two outs, a ground ball hit the baserunner to end the inning, but the batter also receives a single. After that, he retired the final 18 batters he faced, striking out six without a walk. It is Theetge's second complete-game shutout of the season and his second in two starts against the Mountaineers. Last year, he blanked Mount on three hits, walked two and struck out five.
In addition to Gasper and Theetge, freshman Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) and junior Jack Patterson (Suffield, Conn.) were also recognized as NEC Prime Performers. Titus had seven hits, drove in seven runs and scored six times in four games against Mount and is now leads all NEC freshmen in RBI and home runs. Patterson extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings with six scoreless against the Mount on Sunday. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out seven.
The Bulldogs wrap up their NEC regular-season schedule this week with a four-game series at rival Sacred Heart. It begins Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.