March 2, 2009

PHILDELPHIA - The Atlantic 10 Conference released its weekly honors and La Salle first baseman TJ Chism was named the Player of the Week for Baseball. Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball has also named Chism its Player of the Week. 

The junior batted .667 for the week, with a .727 on-base and a 1.444 slugging percentage to lead La Salle to a doubleheader sweep at Morehead State. He had six hits, scored five runs and drove in nine, while belting a pair of home runs.

He singled home the game-winning and insurance runs with a two-out single in the top of the ninth to lift the Explorers to the 6-4 victory in the first game on Saturday.

In the second game, he hit a solo home run in the first inning – going back-to-back with teammate John Malloy for second time this season – then double La Salle’s lead (from 4-0 to 8-0) with a grand slam in the fourth inning in the Explorers’ 21-6 victory.

The six RBI he had in game two was the most since April 14, 2006 (Rich Prall, 6, vs. UMass).

The 21 runs scored by La Salle in game two was the most since April 8, 2001 (at Rhode Island, 21-10 win). The last time the Explorers scored at least 20 runs, had 20 hits and won by at least 15 runs was April 13, 1999 - a 25-5 victory over Georgetown (had 26 hits).

Chism earns his first career A-10 weekly honor and the first Player of the Week for La Salle since John Rickards on February 19, 2007.

La Salle currently stands at 3-3 this season - but will have to wait another 10 days until its home opener. The snow in the area has already cancelled Tuesday game with Bucknell.