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 Junior Blake Murphy (middle) was recognized today as a 'Louisville Slugger' National Player of the Week |
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May 14, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina junior catcher Blake Murphy was today named a "Louisville Slugger" National Player of the Week, as chosen by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. The honor is the first of the season for Western, which moved into a tie for first-place in the Southern Conference standings by virtue of its seventh-straight conference series victory - and fourth series sweep - coupled with the College of Charleston dropping two of three at home to UNC Greensboro.
Murphy was one of just three players recognized this week, joining Oral Roberts RHP Chance Chapman and Clemson first baseman, Andy D'Alessio.
A native of Waynesville, N.C., Murphy had a monster week as he belted six home runs over a five-game span, including three in Saturday's 21-3 win over the Wofford Terriers. He finished the week 10-for-18 at the plate with seven extra base hits as WCU went 5-0 with two road wins at Ohio State and three in conference at Wofford.
Murphy hit his first home run of the week last Tuesday at Ohio State, blasting a solo shot to left field as a part of back-to-back home runs that propelled WCU to the 7-3 win over the Buckeyes. In Friday's series opener in Spartanburg, he was 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs and a double, scoring six runs in the 26-12 slugfest with Wofford. He followed that up with a perfect 5-for-5 performance on Saturday against the Terriers, blasting three more homers with seven RBI and five runs scored. In the series finale, Wofford walked Murphy four times with him scoring on three of the occasions.
For the week, he collected 12 RBIs and scored 16 runs with 29 total bases for a 1.611 slugging percentage. Additionally, drew eight walks for a team-best .704 on-base percentage.
On the year, Murphy ranks third on the squad in batting average at .364 (67-of-184) with 15 home runs, second on the squad to senior Kenny Smith with 18, and 15 doubles, tied for the third-most on the team. His career-high tying 59 RBI to date rank tied for second at Western and tied for third in the SoCon, while his 44 walks lead both the team and the conference.
Murphy and the Catamounts wrap up the 2007 regular season with four games in Cullowhee this week, beginning with a non-conference tilt against the High Point Panthers on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm. Western pounded out 17 base hits as a part of a 15-8 win over Panthers on the road back on April 24.
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