IRVING, Texas — WKU Baseball junior right fielder Dillon Nelson was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week, the league office announced Monday. The leadoff hitter reached base in 14-of-22 plate appearances and hit the game-winning homerun in Game 2 of the Hilltoppers' doubleheader sweep of Northern Illinois on Friday.
It is the fifth time a Hilltopper has earned C-USA Hitter of the Week honors since WKU joined the league prior to the 2015 season. Most recently, it was Steven Kraft took home the weekly award April 29, 2016.
Nelson slashed .500/.636/.857 in five games, leading the Hilltoppers to their first four-game win streak since April 2016. The Omaha, Neb., native set the table all week for WKU, reaching base in 14-of-22 plate appearances. He tied for the Hilltoppers lead with seven hits and four runs scored, while pacing the team with three extra-base hits and 12 total bases. Nelson walked five times and was hit by pitch twice - compared to only one strikeout - while also adding a stolen base.
Nelson was the hero in a 1-0 WKU victory over the Huskies on Friday evening, breaking up a no-hitter with a double in the sixth inning, then blasting a solo homerun on a 3-2 pitch with two out in the bottom of the eighth for the lone run of the ballgame. The homerun helped the Hilltoppers sweep a doubleheader on the day, the team's first doubleheader sweep since April 2015; a span of 11 doubleheaders.
Nelson reached base in all four plate appearances in 2-of-5 games, going 1-for-1 with two walks and one time hit by pitch in a 4-1 victory vs. Belmont on Tuesday, then going 3-for-3 with one walk in a 5-0 loss vs. NIU on Sunday.
Topper Quotes
- "It was great to get four wins this opening week at home, the team played great all around and it was a lot of fun," Nelson said. "Pitchers did a great job filling up the zone and making key pitches when needed, and the hitters were locked in with what we needed to do to drive the ball and score runs."
- "This is a great honor for Dillon. He had a great week at the plate and has helped the team get off to a strong start," head coach John Pawlowski said. "We are certainly proud of what he has accomplished, and we're looking forward to his continued success."
