Jones Named NCAA Division III Baseball Hitter of the Week

     UW-Stevens Point junior first baseman Ryan Jones has been named the NCAA Division III baseball hitter of the week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after posting a .543 average last week as the Pointers went 9-0.

     Jones, a former Eau Claire North High School standout, was 19-for-35 with 21 runs scored and 17 RBI�s. He also hit five home runs, including two in an 8-7 comeback win over UW-Whitewater last Wednesday.

     In addition, Jones had four doubles, two stolen bases and 79 chances in the field without an error. He was also named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference position player of the week. Jon Lee of Tufts (Mass.) was named the Division III Pitcher of the Week.

     This week, Jones got off to another great start with hits in his first five at bats, including two home runs in UW-Stevens Point�s sweep of Marian by 9-3 and 10-4 scores on Tuesday.

Baseball Team Ranked Third in NCAA Division III Rankings

     Riding a school record 19-game winning streak, the UW-Stevens Point baseball team achieved its highest national ranking ever at No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division III poll by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

     The Pointers were eighth in the previous poll two weeks ago, but won all 11 games since that last ranking. After Tuesday�s sweep of Marian, UW-Stevens Point is now 20-2-1 overall with its last loss coming on March 18 at Austin Peay (Tenn.).

     Texas Lutheran and defending national champion Eastern Connecticut State share the top spot in the poll. UW-Stevens Point is one of five Wisconsin schools in the rankings as Carthage is fifth, Ripon is 10th, UW-Oshkosh is 14th and UW-Whitewater is 28th.

     The Pointers are scheduled to play Wednesday at St. Norbert and Thursday at home against Lakeland. Both are 1 p.m. doubleheaders.