NORFOLK, Va., April 16, 2018—Coppin State junior Nazier McIlwain and Norfolk State redshirt junior Justin Hayes were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Co-Players of the Week, the conference office announced today. Norfolk State’s Alsander Womack earned Rookie of the Week honors, while Norfolk State junior Chase Anderson and North Carolina A&T State senior Josh Stikeleather were named Co-Pitchers of the Week.
 
McIlwain (5-11, 225, Jr., Passaic, N.J.) hit a MEAC-best .538 in three games this past week, going 7-for-13 at the plate while driving in seven runs and scoring five times. After driving in a pair of runs and going 1-for-3 with two walks in a midweek contest against Towson, McIlwain went a combined 6-for-10 in a doubleheader sweep of Delaware State – including a career-best 5-for-5 in the second games with a double, four RBIs and three runs scored.
 
Hayes (5-8, 150, r-Jr., Chesapeake, Va.) was key in Norfolk State’s 3-1 week, including a 7-for-9 day on Saturday as the Spartans swept a doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore. After going 3-for-5 in the first game, driving in a run and swiping three bases, Hayes went a career-best 4-for-4 in the nightcap with two doubles and the go-ahead grand slam – his first collegiate home run. That performance helped Hayes hit .444 (8-for-18) and slug .722 for the week.
 
Womack (5-9, 225, Fr., Waxhaw, N.C.) hit .412 (7-for-17) in four games this past week, including a 3-for-4 performance with a walk and two stolen bases that helped the Spartans defeat North Carolina Central on the road. He also went 2-for-5 with an RBI in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Maryland Eastern Shore, and for the weekend, Womack had three RBIs and a run scored.
 
Anderson (5-9, 160, Jr., Norfolk, Va.) picked up two wins for the Spartans, including his first relief win of the season after tossing two scoreless innings, striking out two, against North Carolina Central. He then opened the weekend series against Maryland Eastern Shore with a nine-inning complete game, striking out six and scattering nine hits. For the week, Anderson boasted a 1.64 ERA.
 
Stikeleather (6-0, 175, Sr., Kenly, N.C.) threw a combined three innings of relief this past week in three appearances, picking up a pair of saves in a series win over North Carolina Central. He only gave up two hits and one run in those appearances, combining for four strikeouts – including a pair in one inning of work in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
 
Other Top Performers
Jacky Miles, Jr. (FAMU) hit two home runs in the second game of a doubleheader against Bethune-Cookman, and also had three RBIs against Jacksonville.
 
Thomas Nicoll (FAMU) tossed seven innings against Bethune-Cookman, picking up the win after striking out seven and giving up just three hits.
 
Dominic DeBlasie (MDES) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and a home run in Sunday’s win over Norfolk State.
 
Toby Hoskins (MDES) won twice this past week, including a nine-inning, seven-strikeout performance against Norfolk State.
 
Dillon Oxyer (MDES) was 2-for-4 in the series opener against Norfolk State with a stolen base.
 
Myles Sowell (NCAT) drove in three runs for the week and went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the opener against North Carolina Central.
 
Nick Caregnato (NCCU) struck out eight in 6.1 innings of relief against North Carolina A&T State to help his team avoid the three-game sweep.
 
Carter Williams (NCCU) hit a home run in the series opener against North Carolina A&T State.