HCAC Players of the Week

Baseball Hitter – Jacob Craft, Anderson University

Anderson University’s Jacob Craft (LaPorte, Ind./H.S.) was nearly perfect at the plate in the Ravens’ season opening series at Indiana Southeast and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter of the Week.  The sophomore shortstop finished 6-of-7 (.857) at the plate as the Ravens opened the season with a 1-1 split with IU-Southeast.  Craft scored three runs with a home run and two RBI in the doubleheader, finishing with a 1.286 slugging percentage.  Anderson (1-1, 0-0 HCAC) will have a doubleheader with Marietta in Xenia, Ohio Monday afternoon.

Baseball Pitcher – Dylan Padgett, Manchester University

Manchester University’s Dylan Padgett (Kirklin, Ind./Clinton Central) fired a complete-game in his first appearance this spring and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week.  The junior fired nine full innings, allowing only four hits and zero earned runs, as the Spartans defeated Ursinus 13-1 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  Padgett tallied eight strikeouts in the win and held the opposition to a .138 batting average.  Manchester (4-0, 0-0 HCAC) will finish its six game trip to Myrtle Beach Monday afternoon.

Softball Hitter – Ariana Muffo, Bluffton University

Bluffton University’s Ariana Muffo (New Athens, Ill./H.S.) led the Beavers to a pair of wins Sunday in Kissimmee, Florida and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week.  The sophomore finished the week 5-for-7 (.714) with three runs scored, two doubles, one home run, and five RBI, while posting a slugging percentage of 1.333.  The Beavers (2-0, 0-0 HCAC) will continue play in Florida this week with eight games on the schedule.

Softball Pitcher – Chloe Shell, Bluffton University

Bluffton University’s Chloe Shell (Covington, Ohio/H.S.) led the Beavers to an 8-0 win over Illinois College Sunday and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week.  The sophomore tossed a complete game shutout in the win, allowing two hits, and zero runs, while striking out two batters.  The Beavers (2-0, 0-0 HCAC) will continue play in Florida this week with eight games on the schedule.

Men’s Tennis – Anton Bartashevich, Earlham College

Earlham College’s Anton Bartashevich (Moscow, Russia/International) went 4-0 as the Quakers defeated Ohio Northern and Luther last week and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Tennis Player of the Week.  In Earlham’s 8-1 win over Ohio Northern, the sophomore earned a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles and added an 8-1 win at the top doubles position.  Bartashevich followed that performance with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles and a 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles as EC defeated Luther 7-2.  Earlham (6-0, 2-0 HCAC) is currently ranked No. 30 nationally and will face Capital, Chicago, and DePauw this week.