3rd baseman leads NAIA in HR's

LEBANON -- See if this has a familiar ring to it. Cumberland third baseman Matt Greener has picked up yet another weekly award from the TranSouth Conference.

Greener and Aaron Wilkerson were named the TranSouth Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on Monday after helping the fourth-ranked Bulldogs to a 3-1 record last week, including a pair of victories over No. 13 Bethel University.

Greener and Trevecca Nazarene’s Chris Hale were named Co-Players of the Week. It is Greener’s third consecutive Player of the Week honor and fourth this season from the TranSouth. Cumberland has now claimed 10 of the 14 league POW accolades this season.

Greener continued his assault on opponent pitching, collecting eight hits in 13 at-bats (.615) with three home runs, seven RBIs and six runs scored. The Jupiter, Fla., native went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in a 12-10 victory over Lambuth Univ. and recorded five hits with a double, one home run, three RBIs and four runs scored in three games versus Bethel.

His three-run homer in the fourth inning of Friday’s doubleheader opener against Bethel proved to be a game-winner. The senior third baseman has hit safely in 34 of CU’s 35 games this season and is currently on a 23-game hitting streak. He currently leads the nation in home runs (15), total bases (122) and hits (61), ranks second in RBIs (54) and slugging percentage (.992) and is eighth in batting average (.492).

Wilkerson tossed a one-hit shutout in Friday’s second game versus Bethel, allowing just three baserunners with four strikeouts in the five-inning victory. The righthander walked one and hit a batter while throwing just 68 pitches.

The Waco, Texas, native is now 5-1 this season with a 1.93 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 37.1 innings of work. The righthander has victories this season over Oklahoma City Univ., Embry-Riddle, Union Univ. and Bethel.

Cumberland hosts eighth-ranked Lee University in a single game Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Ernest L. Stockton Field.