Outfielder Ryan Hayes, Earlham Earlhan athletics photo

Ryan Hayes of Earlham College posted a slugging percentage over 2.000 and Ryan Spengler of Saint John’s University (Minn.) won a tight pitchers’ duel, earning them the 10th and final 2013 NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors for April 29-May 5 as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Hayes, a junior first baseman from New Lebanon, Ohio, led the Quakers to a three-game sweep over Rose-Hulman and was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week.  The junior finished the week 6-for-7 (.857) at the plate with one double and three home runs for 16 total bases, five runs scored, and five RBIs while slugging an eye-popping 2.286.  In the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday, he went 3-for-4 four with two home runs, four runs batted in and two runs scored.  In the second game, he was 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, three runs scored and an RBI. 

Pitcher Ryan Spengler, St. John's St. John's photo by Brace Hemmelgarn

Spengler, a senior right-hander from St. Cloud, Minn., threw a complete-game, nine-inning shutout to win a dramatic 1-0 pitchers’ duel against conference foe Gustavus Adolphus in which the Johnnies won in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth. He allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out five.  Gustavus managed to get just three balls out of the infield (two ground singles and a fly out).  Spengler, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, is 5-0 with a 2.60 ERA. He ranks third in the MIAC in wins, eighth in ERA, first in shutouts (one), second in complete games (four), and ninth in strikeouts (32).

Honorable Mention Hitters:  Tucker White (Southern Maine) - .562 (9-16), 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBI, .938 slugging pct.; Brett Ossola (Case Western Reserve) - .467 (7-15), 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 1.067 slugging pct.; Eric Perez (Rowan) - .600 (9-15), 1 double, 1 triple, 6 RBI, 7 runs, .800 slugging pct.; Joe Moran (Concordia-Chicago) - .588 (10-17), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 6 RBI, 3 runs, .824 slugging pct.; Jon Frericks (Illinois Wesleyan) - .550 (11-20), 4 doubles, 2 RBI, 6 runs, .750 slugging pct. 

Honorable Mention Pitchers: Steven Mechiorre (Rowan) - 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 15.0 ip, 10 hits, 15 strikeouts; Alex Weingarten (Farmingdale State) - 1-0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 8.0 ip, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts; Michael Kaufman (Wheaton IL) - 1-0, 1 save, 0.00 ERA, 10.0 ip, 1 cg, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts; Christopher Myers (Maritime) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 3 hits, 6 strikeouts; Chris Hoopingarner (Franklin) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 6 hits, 8 strikeouts; Brad Kohn (Wisconsin-Stout) - 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 ip, 1 cg, 7 hits, 6 strikeouts; Connor Murphy (Denison) - 1-0, 3.18 ERA, 11.1 ip, 10 hits, 5 strikeouts.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Player of the Year Award, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.

2013 NCBWA NCAA Division III National Players of the Week:

Date                      Hitter of the Week                               Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 25-Mar. 3      Josh Rapacz (George Fox)                  Nick Rossmiller (Thiel)
Mar. 4-10              Matt Sheneman (Neumann)               Zach Jones (McDaniel)   
Mar. 11-17            Daniel Donohue (Salve Regina)          Nick Rossmiller (Thiel)
                             Jake Mailman (Wentworth Tech) 
 Mar. 18-24            Michael Morelli (Mount Saint Mary)     Steven Ramsdell (Allegheny)  
Mar. 25-31            Jonathan Mason (Bridgewater)           Phil Stakely (Trine)         
Apr. 1-7                 Brad Gugliotta (Baldwin Wallace)       Trevor Lubking (Pacific Lutheran)
                              Daniel Paccione (Farmingdale State)   
Apr. 8-14               Ronald Echavarria (SUNY-Purchase)   Ryan Jacobs (Penn State-Behrend)
Apr. 15-21             Matt Taliercio (Lancaster Bible)           Derek Slagle (Penn State-Harrisburg)
Apr. 22-28             Brian Mauro (DeSales)                        Alex DiSanto (SUNY-Old Westbury)
Apr. 29-May 5        Ryan Hayes (Earlham)                        Ryan Spengler (St. John’s MN)