DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has named its Dick Howser Trophy Players of the Month for April, presented by The Game Headwear, tabbing Tennessee infielder Christian Moore as the Hitter of the Month and East Carolina’s Trey Yesavage as the National Pitcher of the Month.
Moore had a prolific month in April, leading the Southeastern Conference in hits (28), while ranking second in RBI (27) and slugging percentage (1.016) as UT went 13-3 during the month, including a key series win at No. 3 Kentucky. Moore, a native of Brooklyn, New York, hit .452 (28-for-62) with 20 runs scored, five doubles, 10 homers and 27 RBI, owning six walks and a .507 on-base percentage. On the year, Moore has hit .375 (66-for-176) with 13 doubles, two triples and 20 homers, driving in 46 runs and owning a .790 slugging and a .447 on-base percentage. He homered four times – including three times in the series finale – during the UK series, going 8-for-11, and then homered in all three games vs. Auburn.
A native of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, Yesavage went 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA in his four starts in April. He worked 26.1 innings, allowing only nine hits and three runs, walking nine and striking out 50. Opponents hit just .105 off him in April. On the year, he is 9-1 with a 1.73 ERA in 11 starts, tossing 67.2 innings, allowing only 34 hits and 21 walks, striking out 113. He was named American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week three times in April, with double-figure strikeouts in all four starts, including punching out 15 in a win over Wichita State. He didn’t allow a run in three of his four starts in April and worked at least six innings in each outing.
This marks the ninth consecutive year that the NCBWA has honored a hitter and pitcher of the month. Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.