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Landmark Announces Athletes of the Week

TOWSON, Md. - The Landmark Conference has released the Athletes of the Week. The conference will recognize a student-athlete for each sport based on their contributions to their team throughout the season.

For the spring season, baseball, softball, and lacrosse will be announced on Monday, followed by golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field on Tuesday.

  • Baseball Athlete of the Week: Matteo Gruendig (Drew University)
    Gruendig batted .588 (10-for-17) and scored nine runs over six games and four starts in a 6-1 week for the Rangers. In his top performance, he went 4-for-4 with a pair of runs in Drew's 5-4 victory over Utica in its spring break finale in Florida. He also went 5-for-9 over his two starts in the Rangers' series versus Catholic. He went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in a 15-5 victory, and he was also 2-for-5 in a 10-2 win over the Cardinals, helping the Rangers to their first series win over Catholic since 2018. 

    Baseball Pitcher of the Week: Jayce Thoroughman (Drew University)
    Thoroughman went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 14 strikeouts over two starts and 12 innings pitched for the Rangers. In his top performance, he allowed only two hits and one run while striking out eight over seven innings in Drew's 10-2 victory in its series finale at Catholic. He blanked the Cardinals over the first seven innings and helped the Rangers to their first series win over Catholic since 2018. Thoroughman also earned his first career win in Drew's 12-1, seven-inning victory over Roger Williams in Florida, allowing just one unearned run on six hits while striking out six over five innings of work.

  • Men's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week: Anthony DiFrancesco (Wilkes University)
    DiFrancesco had the best two-game stretch of his Colonel career in a 2-0 week against King’s College and Mount Saint Mary College. The first-year attacker tallied 13 goals, two assists, 21 shots on goal, 12 ground balls, and five caused turnovers to help Wilkes win both games. Against the Monarchs, he tied the program record with seven goals scored in the team’s 21-9 win.

    Men's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week: Colton Manorek (Catholic University)
    Manorek had another double-figure saves week across Catholic's games against Bridgewater and Eastern. He totaled 15 saves on the week and three ground balls. He also logged two wins. In game one of the week, he had eight saves and two ground balls across 37 minutes of play. In game two against Eastern, Manorek scooped up a ground ball and logged seven saves in 46 minutes of play. 

    Women's Lacrosse Offensive Athlete of the Week: Riley Block (Lycoming University) 
    Block posted 18 goals, three assists, 18 draw controls, six ground balls, and four caused turnovers for the Warriors. Against Virginia Wesleyan, she had six goals, two ground balls, a caused turnover, and six draws. In their second game of the week, she added 12 goals, three assists, four ground balls, and three caused turnovers in a 23-0 win over Hilbert.

    Women's Lacrosse Defensive Athlete of the Week: Grace Button (Catholic University)
    Button had a standout week for the Cardinals in their two games, recording six caused turnovers and eight ground balls. Against Shenandoah, she totaled five ground balls and two caused turnovers. She followed that performance against the University of Chicago by leading the team with four caused turnovers while adding three more ground balls. 

  • Softball Athlete of the Week: Haley Meierhofer (Drew University)
    Meierhofer batted .565 (13-for-23) with nine runs scored and five stolen bases, helping the Rangers finish 5-3 over the last eight games of their spring break trip to Florida. She recorded five multi-hit games and batted safely in six of her seven outings for the week, including a stellar showing in the team's 9-2 win over Alfred State in which she went 4-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases. 

    Softball Pitcher of the Week: Gabby Duran (Drew University)
    Duran fired a no-hitter versus Crown to cap a 7-3 spring break trip to Florida for the Rangers. She struck out five and allowed just three baserunners in Drew's 5-0 victory. It was Drew's first no-hitter since 2015 and the first seven-inning no-no by a Ranger since 2006. Duran also earned the victory in a 5-2 win over Geneva, tossing four innings while allowing just one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four. Duran also worked three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out two to pick up the save in Drew's 9-2 win over Alfred State. For the week, she went 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA, a save, and 11 strikeouts over 14 innings pitched.