Feb. 8, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Junior third baseman Michael Thompson was named the first recipient of the West Coast Conference/Rawlings Player of the Week award for 2005 on Monday after leading the Santa Clara baseball team to a three-game sweep of Utah last weekend. It is the first such honor of Thompson's career after he was named to the All-WCC Second Team last season.
The Villa Park, Calif. native paced the Broncos in six different offensive categories over the weekend. He hit .538 (7-for-13) over the three-game set and led SCU with four RBI and 10 total bases. On Friday, Thompson posted a season-best three hits, including two doubles. In Saturday's contest, he paced the Broncos with three runs driven in as he went 2-for-4 at the plate. In the series finale, Thompson posted his third straight multiple hit game, going 2-for-4.
Thompson becomes the first Bronco to win a weekly award from the WCC since Robert Perry was named player of the week on May 17, 2004. Gonzaga's Josh Monroe was named the conference's Pitcher of the Week after posting a win over Oregon State last weekend.
The Broncos will return to action this weekend when they travel to San Diego, Calif. for a three-game series against two-time defending Mountain West Conference Champion San Diego State. Friday night's game is set to start at 6 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Senior right-hander Kellan McConnell will get the start on the mound for Santa Clara.