DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending April 6. Grand Canyon redshirt senior outfielder Michael Diaz was named National Hitter of the Week, while LSU sophomore left-handed pitcher Kade Anderson was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Diaz was the offensive highlight of the Lopes' 4-1 week with an explosive offensive showing during GCU's road sweep of California Baptist. Over the four-game span, the Phoenix, Arizona, native, went 8-for-14 (.571) with 16 RBI, four home runs, seven runs scored and a triple.
Diaz started the week with a walk in a pinch-hit appearance against Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday. From there, he ignited at the plate. On Friday, he hit 2-for-3 with a home run, a triple and four RBI, Saturday, he finished with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored and finished the weekend series with three hits in six plate appearances with a grand slam and a career high seven RBI.
Diaz lifted his season average to .302 and took the Lopes' lead with eight home runs on the season. He posted a 1.357 slugging percentage for the week, providing the middle-of-the-lineup firepower that fueled GCU's weekend dominance.
Anderson fired a complete-game shutout on Thursday night in LSU’s 2-0 win over No. 9 Oklahoma.
Anderson, whose longest career outing prior to Thursday night was 6.1 innings, limited Oklahoma to five hits in nine innings with two walks and a career-best 14 strikeouts. The Madisonville, Louisiana native, threw 135 pitches, 91 for strikes, and he retired 12 Oklahoma batters in a row to complete the outing.
His effort was the first complete-game shutout recorded by an LSU pitcher since April 24, 2018, when AJ Labas blanked Lamar in Baton Rouge.
Anderson’s outing was the first nine-inning complete game recorded by an LSU pitcher since June 2, 2023, when Paul Skenes worked 9.0 innings and allowed two runs to defeat Tulane in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional.
Anderson leads the SEC this season in wins (6) and innings pitched (47.1), and he is No. 2 in the league in strikeouts (75).
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