KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State’s Joe Mapes was named MIAA/AstroTurf Co-Hitter of the Week on Tuesday (Feb. 16) for his efforts in a three-game series with Regis University this past weekend in Hays. Mapes shares the honor this week with Joe Paulino of Missouri Southern. Payton Walker of Missouri Southern was named the Pitcher of the Week.
Mapes batted .538 over a three-game series against Regis University at home. As the designated hitter, he went 7-of-13 at the plate with two home runs and a double to produce a slugging percentage of 1.077. He scored four runs and drove in four. Three of his four RBI came in FHSUs only win in the series, a 9-4 result in the series finale.
Paulino had quite the opening weekend for the Lions in helping Missouri Southern to a four-game sweep of Bemidji State. In the second game of a DH against the Beavers, Paulino went 3-5 with three RBIs, a run and two doubles. In the game on Saturday, Paulino went 3-4 with a run, a double and two RBI’s. In the series finale on Sunday, Paulino went 1-3 with a home run and two RBIs. For the week, Paulino hit .583, slugged 1.083, had seven hits, three doubles a home run and three runs scored.
Walker pitched a stellar game in the opener for the Lions against Bemidji State this weekend. He teamed up and earned a shutout, throwing eight innings in the process. He struck out five and walked just one, allowing just three hits in the game. He allowed just one batter past first base and retired 14 in a row at one point, including 18 of the final 20 he faced (one reached by way of error). The 5-11 senior left handed pitcher is a native of Carl Junction, Mo. where he competed at Carl Junction High School.