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 Feb. 19. Texas State freshman infielder/outfielder Chase Mora was named National Hitter of the Week, while LSU junior right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Coming off the bench in the final two games against Northwestern, Mora hit a home run in all three of his plate appearances while seeing just seven pitches. The freshman smacked the second pitch he saw on Saturday in the seventh inning for a three-run homer as a pinch hitter.
The Tomball, Texas, native came on as a pinch hitter again in the series finale in the seventh. He sent a 2-2 offering over the left-field wall and into the outfield of the Bobcat Softball Stadium. Mora would then blast the first pitch he saw an inning later to left center for a grand slam to cap the Bobcats' scoring.
Skenes, making his debut in a Tiger uniform, worked six shutout frames on Friday to defeat Western Michigan, allowing just three hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts. The 12 strikeouts represented the most by an LSU pitcher since Landon Marceaux on April 15, 2021.
The Lake Forest, California, native’s effort also marked the most strikeouts by an LSU pitcher in a season opener since Scott Schultz fanned 12 Lamar batters in 1995 in the Winn-Dixie Showdown at the Louisiana Superdome.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com. For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).