Breard collects weekly hitting award

MOUNT VERNON ? Cornell's Walker Breard of Washington has been selected Midwest Conference Baseball Hitter of the Week for the period ending April 9.

Breard tied the school record for career home runs and became the third Ram player to reach 100 RBIs during an impressive week in which the Rams went 4-2 in MWC play.

In six games, Cornell's powerful lefty batted .458 (11-for-24) and posted a hefty 1.083 slugging percentage with 8 runs, three doubles, four home runs and 13 RBIs. Breard walked five times, stole two bases and played errorless ball at first base.

Breard had another incredible series against Illinois College, going 9-for-17 with eight runs, three doubles, four home runs and 13 RBIs.

His three-run homer in Game 2 Sunday was the 25th round-tripper of his career, and 11th in 11 games against the Blueboys.

Breard equaled Cornell's all-time home run mark set by Paul John Zobeck (2003, 05).

Breard drove in nine runs during Sunday's doubleheader, boosting his career RBI total to 108. He is now 17 RBIs behind Chet Knake's career record from 2000-03.

Breard reached base 13 times in the Illinois College series and extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games.

For the year, Breard is batting .391 and slugging .710. He has accounted for 12 extra-base hits, including five homers.

The Rams (7-12 overall, 5-3 MWC) visit Iowa Wesleyan (9-19 overall) Wednesday for one varsity game at 5 p.m. in Mount Pleasant.