(Editor’s note: MSUB Athletics release)
PORTLAND, Ore. – After a near-perfect week in which he made just three outs in 20 plate appearances, Montana State University Billings baseball junior Daniel Cipriano has been named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week announced by the conference office on Monday.
It is Cipriano’s second GNAC Player of the Week award this season, it is the 10th overall player of the week award for MSUB, and it is the ninth consecutive week a Yellowjacket has earned the award. “This was a big weekend for Cip,” said MSUB head coach Aaron Sutton. “He looked really comfortable and locked in both days. His approach was simple and he was rewarded for sticking to it. Overall it is great for him to be recognized this week, as he helped the club earn a much-needed sweep on the road.”
Cipriano got on base in 16 of 20 plate appearances (.800) to lead the Yellowjackets to a four-game sweep of Central Washington. The slugger went 9-for-13 at the plate (.692) with a double, three home runs, and eight RBIs. He also scored nine runs, was hit by a pitch four times, and drew three walks.
Cipriano did not strike out at the plate, and defensively he was perfect in 26 chances at first base with no errors. He posted an incredible on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 2.262. Cipriano now leads the GNAC in batting average (.410), slugging percentage (.851), on-base percentage (.543), runs (49), home runs (16), total bases (114), and times hit by a pitch (23).
Cipriano started MSUB’s record streak of nine straight weekly awards by earning the honor on March 4. He went on to be named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association West Region Player of the Week that week as well.
MSUB’s baseball team is 26-18 overall and is in first place in the GNAC standings at 26-10 in league play. The Yellowjackets close the 2019 regular season this weekend with four home games against Concordia University at Dehler Park. Doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and live video with play-by-play commentary and live statistics will be available through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal online here.
MSUB’s magic number to clinch its second straight GNAC regular-season title and its fourth title in the last five years is three wins.
