Kanios and Stephens Collect Weekly NEC Baseball Honors

Sophomore Chris Kanios and freshman Peyton Stephens of the Central Connecticut baseball team were recognized by the Northeast Conference on Monday for their play last week. Kanios was named NEC Player of the Week, while Stephens was named NEC Rookie of the Week after helping CCSU sweep a conference series from Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Blue Devils have won three straight and will host Fairfield on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

Kanios powered the Blue Devils to a 3-1 record last week, connecting on nine hits and driving in seven runs. The sophomore outfielder accounted for three multi-hit performances against conference rival Fairleigh Dickinson. During the three-game NEC series sweep, Kanios batted .571 (8-for-14) with six RBI. He ended the series finale with a two-out, walk-off three-run inside-the-park home run. His game-winning hit capped the Blue Devils' five-run rally, completing a 6-5 triumph. Kanios also accounted for three hits and three RBI in Saturday's 9-5 victory over the Knights. He tied the game at 3-3 with a run-scoring single in the sixth inning. Two frames later, Kanios connected on a two-run single up the middle to give CCSU an 8-5 advantage. Kanios singled twice in the series opener, a 5-3 win for the Blue Devils. He opened the scoring during CCSU's midweek battle with UConn, singling up the middle to chase home senior Dean Lockery.
WEEK 6 STATS: 4 starts, .474 BA (9-for-19), HR, 7 RBI

Stephens performed on the mound and at the plate last week. After firing 2.0 scoreless frames in his first career start, a mid-week tilt against Connecticut, the first-year Blue Devil proceeded to record at least one hit and one RBI in each of the team's three NEC victories over Fairleigh Dickinson. In the opener, he connected on a RBI double that gave CCSU a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning. Stephens recorded two run-scoring singles in Game 2, a 9-5 triumph for CCSU. His clutch, two-out hit through the right side broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth frame. Helping the Blue Devils complete the sweep, he was a key piece of a five-run rally in the ninth inning of the series finale. Stephens pushed across the first run of the inning, singling down the left field line to score senior Mitch Guilmette.
WEEK 6 STATS: 4 starts, .357 BA (5-for-14), 2 2B, 3 BB, 4 RBI; 2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K

Sophomore Brandon Fox was named a #NECPrimePerformer after striking out eight in 7.0 innings of work in the series-opener against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.

CCSU hosts Fairfield at 3:00 p.m. on CCSU Baseball Field on Tuesday, March 27.