MORGANTOWN, W. VA. (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending May 15. Maryland sophomore shortstop Matt Shaw was named National Hitter of the Week, while UCLA sophomore right-handed pitcher Max Rajcic was named the National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Shaw had an incredible week as he belted seven home runs over four games and collected 13 RBIs, leading the Terps to a 4-0 week, including a Monday win to earn the Big Ten series win against Rutgers and a three-game conference sweep of Michigan. The Brimfield, Massachusetts, native went 8-for-16 at the plate, hitting .500 for the week with eight runs scored and three walks.
On Monday, he was 1-for-3 with a home run, scored a run and had two walks, helping the Terps secure the series win against Rutgers. He led off the first game against Michigan by going 1-for-3 with a homer, one walk and two runs in an 8-7 win. In Saturday’s 20-6, game two win, he went 4-for-5, with three homers, a walk, three runs scored and eight RBIs. He closed the series on Sunday by going 2-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in the 15-10 victory.
Rajcic had his best outing as a Bruin last Friday night to lead UCLA to a 4-0 win over Washington State, pitching the first eight innings of a combined one-hitter and striking out a career-high 14 batters.
His 14 strikeouts tied for the most of any Bruin in a single game over the last 10 seasons (last: Ryan Garcia vs. Utah on Apr. 26, 2019). He is the first Bruin pitcher coached by John Savage to record 14-plus strikeouts in a game without issuing a walk.
The only damage against Rajcic came on a two-out roller up the middle in the first inning. The Fullerton, California, native responded by retiring the next 14 batters, including a streak of five consecutive swinging strikeouts. Only one batter reached base the rest of the night for WSU, and it came on a strikeout as a Rajcic curveball produced a called strike three but reached the backstop.
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For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).