GRINNELL’S SAM TINKHAM, MATT HAMMOND SWEEP MIDWEST CONFERENCE BASEBALL AWARDS

Grinnell College Athletics

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College’s Sam Tinkham ’16 and Matt Hammond ’17 have swept the Midwest Conference Baseball Performer of the Week honors.

Tinkham, a 6-0, 215-pound left-hander from Newington, Conn. (Newington) was named Pitcher of the Week while Hammond, a 5-11, 178-pound catcher from Post Falls, Idaho (Post Falls), was tabbed Player of the Week.

Tinkham continued his impressive campaign by compiling a spotless 0.00 ERA in nine innings during a pair of Pioneer victories during the week. Tinkham pitched an inning of relief in the Pioneers’ 18-4 victory over Knox College on Wednesday, and then shut down Cornell College in a 10-1 victory Saturday by scattering five hits and fanning 12 in eight innings of work.

The win pushed Tinkham, who has been named MWC Pitcher of the Week twice this year, to 5-1.

Hammond was an offensive force for the Pioneers as they won five of six games during the week while securing their fourth MWC South Division title in the last five years. He hit a sizzling .706, coming up with 12 hits in 17 at bats. He had a homer, two doubles and knocked in 13 runs while compiling a slugging percentage of 1.000.

Hammond also had a perfect fielding percentage.

Pioneers have been named MWC Performers of the Week six times this season.