May 11, 2009

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Centerfielder Matt Long was named the West Coast Conference's Player of the Week; it was announced by the league Monday afternoon. It is the Los Altos native's first-ever career weekly accolade from the WCC. The Co-Pitchers of the Week were San Diego's A.J. Griffin and USF's Matt Hiserman. Both tossed complete games giving up just one run and striking out eight.

The senior led Santa Clara to a 3-1 week (May 4-10) with a non-conference midweek win over Stanford and a 2-1 series win against Saint Mary's over the weekend. For the week, Long went 7-for-16 (.438) with seven runs and three RBIs. He also collected a double and a home run.

Currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, Long scored two runs against Stanford and went on to registered another two runs in Friday's series opener against Saint Mary's, including the game-winning run. He also hit his fifth homer of the season, which now ties him with Geoff Klein for the team lead. In Sunday's series finale, he tied his season-high runs with a game-best three, while also posting two RBIs.

For the year, the 6-foot-0 captain leads the Broncos with 42 runs, six triples, five home runs and five sacrifice hits and flies. He is also second on the team with 31 RBIs.

Long has etched his name into the Santa Clara Record Books this season as he has entered seven all-time categories and two single-season lists. He is currently No. 2 all-time in triples (14), No. 3 all-time in hits (266), tied for No. 3 all-time in total bases (390), No. 4 all-time in at bats (855) and in runs (159), tied for seventh in single-season triples (6), No. 9 all-time in walks (98) and extra base hits (72) and No. 10 in single-season sac flies (5).

The Broncos return to action on Tuesday, May 12 with their final home game of the 2009 season. Santa Clara will host UC Davis with a 6 p.m. first pitch at Stephen Schott Stadium.