PHILADELPHIA - Joe Bennie and Pat Christensen swept the Big 5 weekly awards and were named the player and pitcher of the week, respectively, announced by the Big 5 on Tuesday.  The two were instrumental in a 3-1 week for the Explorers, who climbed back above the .500 mark with an extra-inning victory on Sunday.

Bennie showed off his power stroke and had some timely hits during the week, going 8-for-17 (.471) with three home runs and seven RBI.  The junior also knocked home the go ahead RBI in Sunday's series-clinching extra-inning victory over North Carolina A&T. The shortstop also scored six times and tallied three walks.

Christensen dominated on the hill last week, appearing in two games out of the bullpen and recording a win and a save.  The closer went two perfect frames in game two of Saturday's twin bill to earn the save and then pitched a scoreless 10th and 11th on Sunday to earn the win and a series victory for La Salle. Overall, the righty pitched four scoreless frames during the week and allowed just one hit with no walks and seven strikeouts.

La Salle will continue their spring break road trip on Tuesday with a two-game set at Radford.