University of Houston Athletics
Crain Named National Hitter of the Week by NCBWA
2/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas - University of Houston infielder Jesse Crain added another award to his trophy case Tuesday when the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association recognized him as its National Hitter of the Week.
The Boulder, Colo., native was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week on Monday, making him the second Cougar this season to collect the league's weekly award.
In four games last week against two nationally-ranked opponents, Crain batted .600 (12-for-20) with eight runs, three doubles and four RBIs. In addition, he posted a slugging percentage of .750 and played errorless defense in the field at third base and shortstop in 11 chances.
He also set new personal bests with four-hit performances against the Tigers in the first and final games of that series.
If that was not enough, Crain also made his presence felt on the mound with a stabilizing effort. After four previous UH pitchers had allowed at least two hits and one run against LSU on Sunday, Crain tossed a career-best 3.1 innings of shutout relief and earned his second win of the year when the Cougars rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Shane Komine of Nebraska and Joe Linde of Eastern Michigan shared the National Pitcher of the Week honors.
With the postponement of the Cougars' scheduled game against Rice on Tuesday due to the freezing weather moving through the South, Crain will help lead his Cougar teammates into, arguably, the best non-conference tournament of the season nationally.
The Cougars join host ?al State Fullerton, USC and Miami at the Kia Baseball Bash, starting Friday and running through Sunday.
