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Player of the Week: Daniel Pacella, Illinois State
Pitcher of the Week: Joe Ruzicka, Belmont


Illinois State’s Daniel Pacella has been tabbed the MVC Player of the Week. The honor marks the first of the season for Pacella and second for the Redbirds.

Pacella batted .529 and slugged 0.706 with three extra-base hits in four games while accounting for 12 total runs for the Redbirds. He notched three doubles, six RBI and scored six runs in a perfect 4-0 week for Illinois State while reaching base 12 total times. 

Pacella’s week began by going 4-for-5 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in Illinois State’s 14-4 blowout of Illinois. In game one of the three-game series with Evansville, Pacella reached twice while adding an RBI with two runs scored. On Saturday, the junior went 3-for-3 with a double, RBI, two walks and a run scored. In the series finale, Pacella extended his on-base streak to 26 games after getting drilled by a pitch while adding his fourth run of the weekend.


Belmont’s Joe Ruzicka has been named the MVC Pitcher of the Week. Ruzicka is the first Belmont Bruin to earn a Valley Pitcher of the Week nod this season.

Ruzicka improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in MVC play on the mound with a shutout of Bradley on Friday night. Ruzicka struck out eight batters, just one off of tying his career high in the category. The right-hander faced 25 batters and issued just two walks and one hit. 

Ruzicka has thrown 14 scoreless innings in his last two starts with 17 strikeouts and just three hits. The junior leads the MVC in opponent batting average (.199), ranks fifth in ERA (3.65), sixth in innings pitched (44.1) and 10th in strikeouts (43).