By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University catcher Michael Nelsen (Sr., Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) has been named Northwest Conference Baseball Position Player Student-Athlete of the Week after smacking three home runs and recording eight RBIs as the Bearcats split a four-game series at George Fox University on March 13-14. He hit three home runs, recorded eight RBIs, and scored five times against the Bruins.

Nelsen belted a 3-run homer and a solo homer in Willamette's 9-8 win on Sunday, then added a 2-run homer in the final game of the series helping the Bearcats win 19-5 on the run rule in five innings.

During the four-game series, Nelsen batted .308 with a 1.000 slugging percentage. He leads the NWC with eight home runs on the season.

"Mike had great at bats all weekend," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick commented. "The home runs he hit were in pivotal spots in the games and helped ignite a lot of our offense."

Nelsen owns a .353 season batting average with 23 RBIs and 11 runs scored. He is 2 for 2 on stolen bases, has walked five times, and has been hit by three pitches. He has earned a .476 on-base percentage and a 1.088 slugging percentage this year.

Willamette is 8-4 overall and 2-2 in the NWC. The Bearcats will host Pacific Lutheran University in a pair of NWC doubleheaders on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21. Each day, the first game (9 innings) is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. (PDT) with the second game (7 innings) set to begin at about 3 p.m.