May 20, 2012

FRISCO, Texas - UT Arlington right fielder Preston Beck has been named the Southland Conference Hitter of the Week, while Southeastern Louisiana left-hander Jordan Hymel has been named the Southland pitcher of the week, the league office announced Sunday.

Beck was 6 for 10 in a three game series sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi that clinched the No. 4 seed in the Southland tournament, which begins Wednesday in San Marcos, Texas. The junior from Dallas, Texas (Bishop Lynch H.S), extended his conference-leading home run and RBI totals by smashing two home runs and driving in eight runs. He was 3 for 4 with a home run in the opener on Thursday and was 2 for 3 with a home run and six RBI in the finale. He now has 60 RBI, good for sixth on the school's all-time list, and his 11 homers are tied for eighth in school history.

After a rough start, Hymel settled down to toss six consecutive scoreless innings Friday against the Cowboys. The junior retired the final seven batters he faced and held McNeese State hitless over the final three innings. He struck out six batters and allowed only one run on four hits while limiting opposing batters to a .280 average. The win clinched the No. 2 seed in the Southland Conference tournament for the Lions. Hymel is 6-3 with a 2.81 ERA and leads the team with 53 strikeouts.

Honorable mention for hitter of the week goes to Northwestern State senior designated hitter Colin Bear, Sam Houston State senior catcher John Hale, Southeastern Louisiana junior right fielder Alex Marse, UTSA junior infielder Ryan Dalton and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi senior second baseman Jeramie Marek. Honorable mention for pitcher of the week goes to Central Arkansas junior right-hander Ethan McKinzie, Northwestern State junior left-hander Mason Melotakis and Sam Houston State sophomore left-hander Caleb Smith.