Griffin O'Connor, Assumption (Sr., RHP - Dedham, Mass.)
O'Connor was dealing on the mound for the Greyhounds at Southern Connecticut on Sunday, as the senior pitcher struck out four in 8.0 innings and allowed just three runners to reach second and one to third. He surrendered just four hits and no walks in the 3-0 win.
Pat Heber, Bentley (So., P - Garden City, N.Y.)
Heber pitched into the ninth inning at Southern Connecticut, marking his third consecutive start going at least 7.0 innings. He allowed just two earned runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one. He has a 2.74 ERA in his last three starts.
Steve Rizzuto, Bentley (Gr., IF - Belmont, Mass.)
Rizzuto hit the game-winning home run in the 11th inning at New Haven, as part of a 4-2 week for Bentley. Rizzuto collected eight RBI for the week, which puts him tied for the NE10 lead with 42. He batted .292 with three home runs, two doubles and four runs scored.
Kyle Roche, Franklin Pierce (Sr., RHP - Braintree, Mass.)
Franklin Pierce boasted back-to-back shutouts in its doubleheader sweep over AIC Saturday. During the first game, Roche put in seven innings where he only allowed two hits, no runs and recorded seven strikeouts. Roche's time on the mound played a key role in the team's 11-0 victory.
Mason Baronian, Pace (Jr., SS - River Vale, N.J.)
Baronian knocked a game-winning two-run home run in Pace's 5-4 win over Southern New Hampshire. The junior tallied six RBI in just 12 at-bats in Pace's 3-1 week.
Nolan Elmore, Saint Anselm (Sr., C - Brentwood, N.H.)
Elmore crushed two home runs over the week for Saint Anselm to bring his total to seven so far this season, good for fifth-most in conference standings. He batted a .348 for the Hawks during a 2-5 week performance including nine RBI, six runs scored, and a double.
Tad Giardina, Saint Michael's (Fr., OF - Reading, Mass.)
Giardina slashed .474/.842/.583 last week, adding five runs, four doubles, a home run, six RBI, three walks and two hit-by-pitch. He reached base at least three times in three of his seven contests.
Vince Venditti, Saint Rose (Jr., UT - Burnt Hill, N.Y.)
Venditti hit .500 and reached base in 12 of 18 plate appearances this weekend. He drove in two runs and scored eight times himself to help the Golden Knights go 3-1.
Billy Sullivan, Southern Conn. St. (Jr., C/OF - Valley Cottage, N.Y.)
In a 3-3 week, Sullivan slashed .450/.500/.600 while going 9-for-20 (.450) with three doubles, six RBI and five runs scored. Against St. Michael's in a 6-3 win, he was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored before following with a three-RBI outing in a 15-4 win against the Purple Knights. He was then 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored in a loss to New Haven and wrapped up the week with a 3-for-4 day against Assumption.
Joel Valera, Southern N.H. (Fr., IF - Boston, Mass.)
Valera went 4-for-10 (.400) with three extra-base hits, including a home run, five RBI, three runs and a pair of walks during a 2-3 week for the Penmen. Valera had a .900 slugging percentage this week, during which SNHU was 2-1. He went 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBI, a run and a walk in Wednesday's 9-4 win over Saint Anselm. He was then 3-for-7 with two RBI, two runs scored and a pair of doubles in a doubleheader split at Adelphi on Sunday.