HAMMOND, La. – For the third consecutive week and the fourth time overall in 2013, LSU pitcher Aaron Nola was selected on Monday as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week in a vote by a statewide media panel.
The ace right-hander, who earned LSWA honors on April 1, 22 and 29, was joined by teammate JaCoby Jones who was selected for the second time this season as the LSWA Hitter of the Week.
Nola (9-0), a sophomore from Baton Rouge, fired his fourth consecutive complete game for the nationally-ranked Tigers on Friday when he blanked No. 19 Florida, 5-0, in Alex Box Stadium. Nola, who posted his second shutout of the year, limited the Gators to no runs on four singles in nine innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
The former Catholic High product became the first LSU pitcher to record four consecutive complete-game victories since Mike Sirotka accomplished the feat in 1993. He also became the first LSU pitcher to fire two shutouts in one season since Greg Smith recorded two in 2005.
Jones, a junior from Richton, Miss., continued his stellar second half of the year after he hit.500 (8-for-16) at the plate in the Tigers’ four wins last week with one double, two homers and nine RBI.
Against Florida, Jones hit. 385 (5-for-13) with one double, two homers and eight RBI. He collected a career-high six RBI in the Tigers’ 18-6 win over the Gators on Saturday, delivering a grand slam and a two-run double in the process.
Jones, who was hitting just .188 through March 31, has raised his cumulative average to .284 with 10 doubles, five homers, 27 RBI, 32 runs and 12 stolen bases. Jones was named the LSWA Hitter of the Week on April 8th.
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
April 15
Hitter – Brandon Cooksey, LSU-Shreveport
Pitcher – Austin Robichaux, Louisiana-Lafayette
April 22
Hitter – Keith Cormier, Nicholls State
Pitcher – Aaron Nola, LSU
April 29
Hitter – Dylan Butler, Louisiana-Lafayette
Pitcher – Aaron Nola, LSU
May 6
Hitter – JaCoby Jones, LSU
Pitcher – Aaron Nola, LSU