Bowens, Fox Earn NEC Baseball Weekly Honors

Central Connecticut had a pair earn Northeast Conference baseball weekly honors it was announced on Tuesday by the league office. Sophomore TT Bowens was named the NEC Player of the Week, while junior Brandon Fox was recognized as the NEC Pitcher of the Week. The duo helped the Blue Devils to a 3-1 record last week, including a three-game sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson in conference contests last weekend.

The Blue Devils close the regular-season with a three-game series at LIU Brooklyn beginning on Thursday, May 16.

Bowens has been raking since his return to the Blue Devils' lineup one month ago and he in the midst of his best stretch yet. The 6-foot-4 first baseman accounted for four multi-hit games last week and he recorded at least one RBI and one run during each of his four appearances. In addition to leading the circuit in batting average, Bowens slugged 1.000 over the four-game sample that included CCSU's NEC series sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson. The right-handed swinging slugger batted .579 (11-for-19) with five extra-base hits, five RBI and six runs scored. He went 8-for-14 (.571) during the three-game set against FDU. Bowens, who logged at least one extra-base hit in each of CCSU's three conference wins, opened the NEC series by going 3-for-5 with two run-scoring hits in the 17-3 triumph. Bowens picked up three more hits during the middle game of the weekend set, including a two-out double that sparked a three-run opening inning. The CCSU power hitter provided a pair of important hits in the series finale. With the Blue Devils facing a 2-0 deficit, Bowens tripled to lead off the fourth inning and pave the way for a three-run frame. Stepping to the plate in the seventh inning of a 5-5 game, Bowens pulled the go-ahead single into left field and Central Connecticut never looked back in the 8-5 triumph. Bowens was responsible for three of CCSU's eight hits during a mid-week game against Hartford in Dunkin Donuts Park. His third-inning two-bagger tied the score at 1-1.
WEEK 13 STATS: 4 starts, .579 BA (11-for-19), 5 XBH, 5 RBI, 6 runs, 1.000 slugging pct.

Fox went through a second straight start without allowing an earned run. Following 7.0 shutout frames in a win over Wagner one week earlier, the 6-foot-5 right-hander took the ball for the second leg of CCSU's weekend series against FDU. He fired 6.0 effective innings while limiting the opposition to one unearned run. Fox scattered seven hits, six of which were singles, and the lone run he allowed came as a result of the back-to-back errors that were made opening up the third inning. The junior issued only one free pass and fanned two batters. After surrendering a two-out double in the third, Fox did not permit another hit until a two-out single in the sixth. He handed a 7-1 lead over to the bullpen to start the seventh.
WEEK 13 STATS: 1 start, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 1 R, 7 H, 2 K, BB

The duo was joined on the league's weekly list of Prime Performers by senior Jared Gallagher and junior Dave Matthews. Gallagher posted a 0.00 ERA with a pair of saves last weekend, including a five-out save in which he inherited a bases-loaded situation on Saturday. Matthews played in all four CCSU games last week and batted .500, while driving in five runs and scoring five more.

Central closes the regular-season with a trip to LIU Brooklyn for a three-game series beginning on Thursday, May 16.