GRINNELL’S NODZENSKI, POPE SWEEP MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Grinnell College Athletics
GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College’s Mike Nodzenski ’12 (left) and Ben Pope ’12 (right) swept Midwest Conference honors, being named the league’s Performer and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
Nodzenski, a catcher from Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North), enjoyed a record-breaking week for Grinnell. In an 18-2 victory over Monmouth College, he set a Pioneer school record with nine RBI and tied the school mark for home runs in a game with three. In the second game of the doubleheader, he tied Grinnell’s program record for home runs in a season with 12.
In six games during the week, Nodzenski hit .625, going 15-of-24 at the plate with seven homers, a double and 19 RBI. The two-time MWC South Division Player of the Year also had a spotless 1.000 fielding percentage during that span as Grinnell finished with an 11-1 mark in the division.
Pope, from Maryville, Tenn. (Alcoa) and the defending MWC South Division Pitcher of the Year, tossed four-hit ball over six innings and struck out six in the 18-1 win over Monmouth.
Pope also entered a game against Simpson College to pick up his first save of the year, fanning two batters in 1.1 innings. For the season, Pope is 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.
