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Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis had another strong weekend, as his team opened its Southern Conference schedule. In the first game of the series, Lewis was just 1-for-2 with an RBI, but he added three walks. On Friday, the big bat came out with a 3-for-5 outing that included five RBI (a two-run double and a three-run home run). He added another home run on Saturday but also struck out three times.
Earlier last week, Lewis and Mercer faced the SEC's Georgia Bulldogs and pulled out a 3-1 win. Lewis was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks.
He's now hitting .457/.582/.904 (43-for-94) with nine doubles, 11 home runs, and 38 RBI. He has 27 walks to 15 strikeouts.
Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas HS (KS)
One of the top high school arms started his spring season last week. Perfect Game USA had a full rundown of Pint's start last week that you should read, but the highlights include a fastball that reached 99 mph, an 88 mph changeup, and a low-80s curveball.
Related: The National High School Invitational was last week, and Baseball America's Hudson Belinsky covered it. You might be interested in the section on outfielder Blake Rutherford, who is among the top-rated high school position players available this June. You can see video of Rutherford from Day 1 at the above link.
A.J Puk, LHP, Florida
The Kentucky Wildcats got the better of Puk on Saturday, tagging the left for six runs over 4⅓ innings. The first four runs scored on home runs (a first-inning solo shot and a three-run blast in the fourth). After starting the fifth inning with a pop out to short, Puk gave up two singles and was pulled from the game. The reliever allowed both inherited runners to score.
Final line: 4⅓ IP, 6 R/ER, 4 H, 5 K, 2 BB, 82 pitches
Season line: 6 GS, 1-2 W-L, 28⅓ IP, 3.49 ERA, 16/11 R/ER, 21 H, 34 K, 12 BB
Alec Hansen, RHP, Oklahoma
The Colorado native failed to make it out of the first inning in another start this season. He allowed four runs in just two-thirds of an inning in a 5-0 loss to Texas Tech. All of Hanen's troubles started after he started the game by inducing two ground outs to short. Two singles and a stolen base gave Tech its first run of the game. Hansen issued three consecutive walks after that, letting two runs across home plate. He left the game and saw another run walked in to account for the fourth and final run he allowed.
Final line: ⅔ IP, 4 R/ER, 3 H, 0 K, 3 BB, 34 pitches
Season line: 6 GS, 0-4 W-L, 20 IP, 7.65 ERA, 19/17 R/ER, 20 H, 28 K, 18 BB
Others of note
Connor Jones, RHP, Virginia and Corey Ray, OF, Louisville: Jones and the Cavaliers faced Ray and the Louisville Cardinals over the weekend. Jones allowed three runs (two earned) over 7⅓ innings in the series opener. He struck out four and walked three. Ray went 1-for-4 with two RBI (one coming on a double, the other on a ground out). It wasn't enough as the Cavaliers took the first game.
Ray and the Cardinals, though, bounced back and took the two remaining games, 11-4 and 15-0, against the defending NCAA champions. In the former, Ray went 2-for-5 and drove in three runs on a home run, a walk, and an error. He stole a base, as well. In the following game, Ray put together another 2-for-5 performance with a two-run single and an RBI flyout.
Ray, chosen as ACC Player of the Week, is hitting .333/.390/.637 with seven home runs and 30 RBI. He's has 11 walks and 12 strikeouts on the season. When he's been on the base paths, Ray has succesfully made 25 of 28 stolen base attempts.
Matt Krook, LHP, Oregon: Krook pitched five scoreless innings against the Washington Huskies to lead the Ducks to a 2-0 win. He scattered four hits and walked only two batters while striking out five.