Theetge, Titus claim NEC weekly honors

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball redshirt sophomore Jimmy Titus (Stafford, Conn.) and senior Steve Theetge (Syracuse, N.Y.) have been named the Northeast Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday.

Titus more than doubled his season RBI total within a one-week span. Leading Bryant to a 3-1 record, the sophomore shortstop slugged 1.150 while driving in 14 runs. Titus batted .550 (11-for-20) with three home runs, three doubles and nine runs scored over the four-game span that included a NEC series victory over Central Connecticut. The 6-foot-1 right-handed hitter started the week by accounted for the most-impressive single-game offensive output in program history. Titus went 5-for-5 with seven RBI and five runs scored in a 23-3 drubbing of America East member Hartford. He opened the game's scoring with a RBI single in the first inning and proceeded to homer in both the fifth and sixth frames. After accounting for single-game records for hits, RBI and runs scored, Titus continued the run production in Bryant's two NEC wins over CCSU. He logged two hits and three RBI in the series opener, a 12-3 triumph. In the rubber game, Titus recorded four hits and four RBI, including a three-run bomb that boosted the Bulldogs' lead to 8-4 in the fourth frame.

Theetge shared Pitcher of the Week honors with Mount's Trey McGough. He continued his career-long mastery of Northeast Conference opponents by spinning 6.0 innings of one-hit ball against rival Central Connecticut. Taking the ball for the Bulldogs' NEC opener, the tall southpaw allowed only one single and three bases on balls en-route to a 12-3 victory that boosted his record to 19-1 in regular season league games. Theetge, who fanned seven CCSU batters, held the Blue Devils hitless for the first 5.0 frames of his start. After issuing a walk to start the second inning, the senior retired 12 batters in a row. The string was snapped by a leadoff single in the sixth inning, but Theetge quickly erased the base runner by inducing a double play from the ensuing batter. Theetge, who threw 103 pitches, left with a 1-0 lead after 6.0 innings.

In addition, junior Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.) was named an #NECPrimePerformer. Cruz posted eight hits, including four extra-base hits, and six RBI in three games. He had four hits and four RBI at Hartford before going 4-for-8 in Sunday's doubleheader.