NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 17, 2020—Bethune-Cookman redshirt senior Chase DeBonis was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. Bethune-Cookman’s Matthew Garcia and Norfolk State’s Josue Cumba shared Rookie of the Week honors, and North Carolina A&T State junior Ethan Chavis was named Pitcher of the Week.
 
DeBonis (6-0, r-Sr., Tampa, Fla.) was key in the Wildcats opening the 2020 season with a three-game sweep of Alabama A&M this past weekend. He went a combined 6-for-9 at the plate (.667), while slugging .778 and boasting a .750 on-base percentage – thanks in part to three walks in addition to those six base hits. DeBonis drove in three and scored five runs for the weekend, and he had two multi-hit games – including a 3-for-3 effort with three runs scored in Sunday’s 15-7 win.
 
Garcia (6-1, Fr., San Juan, P.R.) had six RBIs in his first collegiate series this past weekend, including four in the second game of the Alabama A&M series. That game also saw Garcia go 2-for-3 at the plate and hit his first career home run. He slugged .600 for the weekend and had a .364 on-base percentage.
 
Cumba (5-9, Fr., Dumfries, Va.) was clutch out of the bullpen in helping the Spartans pick up their first win of the season on Saturday, a 7-3 decision over Wagner. He tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four in picking up the decision.
 
Chavis (6-0, Jr., Pembroke, N.C.) tossed five shutout innings on Friday against George Mason, striking out four and scattering four hits in picking up the victory as the Aggies went on to win 12-2.
 
Other Top Performers
Alec Mendez (B-CU) struck out six in five innings of work against Alabama A&M.
 
Justin Banks (CSU) had two doubles and four RBIs in a three-game series against The Citadel.
 
Aaron Rea (CSU) struck out six in five innings, giving up two runs, against The Citadel.
 
Rashad Ruff (CSU) tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four against The Citadel.
 
Dustin Baber (NCAT) had four RBIs in the Aggies’ win over George Mason.
 
Vinny Bailey (NCCU) had four RBIs, a home run and a double in a three-game series against Radford.
 
Shane Davis (NCCU) struck out six in five innings of work against Radford.
 
Andre White (NCCU) hit a two-run triple in a first career at-bat against Radford, going 3-for-4 in that game.
 
Adam Collins (NSU) hit a two-run single on Sunday to clinch the series win over Wagner.
 
Ridge Walker (NSU) had seven strikeouts in seven innings against Wagner, giving up two runs on six hits.

Brian Cordell (UMES) hit two home runs in a three-game series at Mercer over the weekend.