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Michael Todd of the State Press Not only is ASU center fielder Jeff Duncan good at the plate, where he is hitting .385, he's played a perfect center field this season, committing zero errors. He is rated as one of the best defensive outfielders in college baseball by Baseball America, which says he "chases balls down in center field with the best." |
By Sam Ganczaruk
State Press
The ASU baseball team had its second National Player of the Week of the season named Tuesday.
Jeff Duncan earned the honor with a .650 batting average (13-for-20) in five games last week with nine RBI and nine runs scored.
"This was a little thing at the beginning of the season," Duncan said. "It is neat, though. But it is over now."
The Sun Devils lost the first game of the week against then-No. 11 Cal State-Fullerton 5-4, but rebounded to sweep a four-game series against the University of Maine.
In the Maine series, Duncan put together a string of eight consecutive hits, which ties him for second all-time in ASU history. At one point in the series he reached base 10 consecutive times.
To get to this successful point, head coach Pat Murphy feels that Duncan has worked extremely hard.
"He is a kid that has endured a lot," Murphy said. "For him to come back strong like this is great."
Duncan did not necessarily struggle at the beginning of the year, but he was not swinging the bat to the best of his ability.
"I have improved my rhythm at the plate, toned down my swing and just put the ball in play," Duncan said.
Murphy also stated that "the mental part is the biggest thing" that has helped Duncan, but he has "been a team guy. He hasn't been a selfish guy."
Duncan also stole six bases in the Maine series to bring his season total to a team-leading 16 and was perfect in the field. He had a 1.250 slugging percentage for the weekend and notched five extra base hits -- two doubles, two triples and an inside-the-park home run.
Duncan did not earn Pac-10 Player of the Week. He was snubbed by Cal's Xavier Nady, who went 7-for-13 with three home runs and 11 RBI in the three-game series at UA last weekend.
Duncan raised his average 45 points over the weekend to .385.
Left fielder Mitch Jones earned the award earlier in the year.
The Sun Devils also jumped three spots from No. 9 to No. 6 in the latest Baseball America poll.
Sam Ganczaruk can be reached by e-mail at sam.ganczaruk@asu.edu.
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