COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - BYU junior third baseman Brandon Taylor and New Mexico sophomore outfielder Chris Carlson were named Mountain West Conference Co-Players of the Week, while UNLV junior righthander Matt Luca earned pitcher of the week accolades. This is the first career weekly honor for Carlson, while Taylor and Luca earned their second and third career honors, respectively.
Taylor, an Orem, Utah, product, went 8-for-14 (.571) from the plate with two home runs, a triple, a double, 11 RBI and six runs scored as the Cougars defeated Utah Valley State and swept a three-game series from New Mexico State last week. Against Utah Valley State, he was 3-for-5 at the plate, with a double, a triple and five RBI. In game one vs. New Mexico State, Taylor went 3-for-4 with a solo homer, and followed with a 1-for-4, one RBI performance in game two. In game three vs. the Aggies, he smashed a sixth inning grand slam, finishing the game with four RBI and two runs scored. Taylor raised his batting average from .310 to. 350 over the week and extended his hitting streak to six games.
Taylor had a 1.214 slugging percentage for the week. He also demonstrated his fielding ability with numerous plays durring the week. He started a 5-4-3 double play in the fourth inning vs. UVSC. Taylor started the game-ending 5-4-3 double play in the 5-3 victory at NMSU. He also started two more double plays in the second and fifth innings in game three at NMSU.
Carlson, from Topeka, Kan., hit .600 (9-for-15) last week. On the week, he hit two home runs, two doubles and a triple, while tallying nine RBI and scoring eight runs to earn him part of the weekly honor.
Luca, a Galveston, Texas, native, collected his first win of the season in game three of the Rebels' series vs. California. In 6.2 innings on the mound, he gave up no earned runs and struck out five batters, while giving up nine hits and walking three to win pitcher of the week honors.