PHOENIX, Ariz. – For the second consecutive week and third time in the month of March, Sun Devil Baseball junior outfielder has been named the Pac-12 Player of the Week, as announced by the league office today.
The national home run leader did nothing to hurt that cause as he homered twice in a three-game series sweep over Arizona, the first such sweep over the in-state rival since 2009. Bishop is the first player to earn back-to-back player of the week honors for Sun Devil Baseball since Ike Davis in 2008. It is Bishop's third career Player of the Week honor – all coming this season – and the 152ndall-time honor for Sun Devil baseball.
Overall, Bishop was .400 on the week on 4-of-10 hitting with two home runs and a double. His presence in the lineup clearly caused the Wildcats time for pause as they walked him six times in the series and spent a considerable amount of time throwing over to first to try to contain his baserunning prowess. It was all to no avail, however, as the junior accounted for an incredible eight runs in the series while also stealing two bases.
Bishop homered in each of the first two games of the series, an 8-2 and 8-3 victory that clinched the series. The homers brought Bishop's NCAA-leading total to 16 for the season 0 two more than any other player in the nation and seven more than any other player in the Pac-12.
Rather than deal with the long-ball prowess in the series finale, the Wildcats pitched around him all day Sunday as he drew a Sun Devil season high four walks. On those four walks - one intentional - Bishop faced just two strikes as Wildcat pitchers wanted nothing to do with the zone against him. Bishop made the most of the one hittable pitch he saw in the high scoring affair, doubling to leadoff the bottom of the eight with ASU trailing 16-15. Bishop took third on a flyout and continued the savvy baserunning to take home on a wild pitch to tie the game and set up ASU's walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth.
All told, Bishop posted a .647 on-base percentage on the series, reaching base 11 times and scoring on eight of those occasions. He also was a perfect 13-of-13 on putouts in center field.
Bishop is now the national leader in runs with 44 this season, in addition to being the national leader in home runs. He leads the country in slugging percentage with his 1.040 clip that's nearly .100 points higher than any other player in the NCAA.
The junior is the Pac-12 leader in batting average at .424, a total that is good for 11thnationally. He's posted 40 RBIs on the season, which is nine more than any other player in the Pac-12 and the sixth best mark in the country. His 26 walks are 16thin the nation and third in the Pac-12 while his .558 on-base percentage is sixth nationally and second in the league.
Bishop has accounted for 103 total bases, the top mark in the nation and 34 more than any other player in the Pac-12.
The No. 5 Sun Devil Baseball team will host a midweek tilt against Long Beach State on Tuesday before hitting the road for four games, starting with a Pac-12 series against USC this weekend followed by a midweek contest at UNLV next Tuesday.
The national home run leader did nothing to hurt that cause as he homered twice in a three-game series sweep over Arizona, the first such sweep over the in-state rival since 2009. Bishop is the first player to earn back-to-back player of the week honors for Sun Devil Baseball since Ike Davis in 2008. It is Bishop's third career Player of the Week honor – all coming this season – and the 152ndall-time honor for Sun Devil baseball.
Overall, Bishop was .400 on the week on 4-of-10 hitting with two home runs and a double. His presence in the lineup clearly caused the Wildcats time for pause as they walked him six times in the series and spent a considerable amount of time throwing over to first to try to contain his baserunning prowess. It was all to no avail, however, as the junior accounted for an incredible eight runs in the series while also stealing two bases.
Bishop homered in each of the first two games of the series, an 8-2 and 8-3 victory that clinched the series. The homers brought Bishop's NCAA-leading total to 16 for the season 0 two more than any other player in the nation and seven more than any other player in the Pac-12.
Rather than deal with the long-ball prowess in the series finale, the Wildcats pitched around him all day Sunday as he drew a Sun Devil season high four walks. On those four walks - one intentional - Bishop faced just two strikes as Wildcat pitchers wanted nothing to do with the zone against him. Bishop made the most of the one hittable pitch he saw in the high scoring affair, doubling to leadoff the bottom of the eight with ASU trailing 16-15. Bishop took third on a flyout and continued the savvy baserunning to take home on a wild pitch to tie the game and set up ASU's walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth.
All told, Bishop posted a .647 on-base percentage on the series, reaching base 11 times and scoring on eight of those occasions. He also was a perfect 13-of-13 on putouts in center field.
Bishop is now the national leader in runs with 44 this season, in addition to being the national leader in home runs. He leads the country in slugging percentage with his 1.040 clip that's nearly .100 points higher than any other player in the NCAA.
The junior is the Pac-12 leader in batting average at .424, a total that is good for 11thnationally. He's posted 40 RBIs on the season, which is nine more than any other player in the Pac-12 and the sixth best mark in the country. His 26 walks are 16thin the nation and third in the Pac-12 while his .558 on-base percentage is sixth nationally and second in the league.
Bishop has accounted for 103 total bases, the top mark in the nation and 34 more than any other player in the Pac-12.
The No. 5 Sun Devil Baseball team will host a midweek tilt against Long Beach State on Tuesday before hitting the road for four games, starting with a Pac-12 series against USC this weekend followed by a midweek contest at UNLV next Tuesday.