April 30, 2001
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Arizona State senior third baseman Mike Lopez has been named Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week and USC junior right-hander Mark Prior has been named Pac-10 Baseball Pitcher of the Week for April 23-29, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Lopez, from Phoenix, Ariz., hit .500 over five games last week, helping the Sun Devils to a 4-1 record against Gonzaga and Arizona. Lopez also scored three runs, hit his third home run of the season and notched five RBI. He tallied the game-winning RBI in ASU's 6-5 extra-inning win over Arizona Sunday. Lopez is batting .343 with three homers, 17 doubles and 42 RBI.
Prior, from Bonita, Calif., recorded his fifth complete game in six Pac-10 starts with a six-hit shutout over UCLA. He also struck out 14 batters without allowing a walk in the 2-0 win. Prior now has a 1.07 ERA on the season. In 100.2 innings pitched he has allowed only 58 hits, recorded 149 strikeouts and walked only 12 batters. In his six conference starts he has a 0.34 ERA, with opponents batting .140 against him and a streak of 17 consecutive scoreless innings.
The Player of the Week honor is the first for Lopez in his career, and the 63rd selection all-time for Arizona State. The Pitcher of the Week honor is the fifth for Prior in his career, and the 47th selection all-time for USC.
Also nominated for Player of the Week were Carson White, CAL, Curtis Davis, OSU, Ryan Garko, STAN, Brian Barre, USC.
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week were Drew Friedberg, ASU, Jason Dennis, CAL, Mike Gosling, STAN, Paul Diaz, UCLA, Justin Cayetano, USC.