HAMMOND, La. – LSU second baseman JaCoby Jones and Northwestern State pitcher Robert Baker were selected Monday as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Baseball Players of the Week in a vote conducted by a statewide panel.
Jones, a junior from Richton, Miss., led LSU to a three-game sweep over seventh-ranked Kentucky in a key SEC series. He went .615 (8-for-13) at the plate against the Wildcats with three doubles, one homer, six RBI, three runs and two stolen bases.
Jones, who was perfect in the field in 19 chances at second base, opened the weekend series with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate with a double and two RBI before going 3-for-4 in Sunday’s finale that included a double, home run and four RBI.
The award for Jones marked the fifth consecutive week an LSU hitter earned LSWA weekly honors joining three-time recipient Mason Katz and freshman shortstop Alex Bregman.
Baker, a junior right-hander from Garland, Texas, helped Northwestern State snap a 13-game losing streak as he tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout of Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas.
He fanned nine batters in the 1-0 victory and recorded key outs as UCA was unable to score despite placing five of its nine base runners in scoring position, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
Weekly Winners
March 4
Hitter – Mark Riendeau, Louisiana College
Pitcher – Jordan Hymel, Southeastern Louisiana
March 11
Hitter – Mason Katz, LSU
Pitcher – Ian Gibaut, Tulane
March 18
Hitter – Mason Katz, LSU
Pitcher – Ryan Eades, LSU
March 25
Hitter – Alex Bregman, LSU
Co-Pitcher – Ian Gibaut, Tulane; Blake Ware, McNeese State
April 1
Hitter – Mason Katz, LSU
Pitcher – Aaron Nola, LSU
April 8
Hitter – JaCoby Jones, LSU
Pitcher – Robert Baker, Northwestern State