WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State designated hitter/left-handed pitcher
Payton Tolle has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.
Tolle did a little bit of everything over the weekend against Oakland, helping the Shockers to a series win in the home-opening three-game set. Offensively, the sophomore slugger went 9-for-14 with one double, two home runs, four runs scored and nine RBI, highlighted by a career-best 5-for-5 day on Saturday with six runs driven in. He homered in each of the first two games of the series, a 432-foot blast on Friday and a 415-foot shot as part of Saturday's 17-5 rout.
On the mound, Tolle was equally impressive on Saturday. The southpaw registered a career-high ten strikeouts over six sparkling innings, allowing just two hits (both singles) and one unearned run en route to earning his second win of the season.
For the year, Tolle is now slashing .442/.467/.651 with three doubles, two home runs and 12 RBI. On the mound, the native of Yukon, Oklahoma is 2-0 with a 2.65 ERA; opponents are hitting just .183 against the lefty.
Tolle and the Shockers return to action with the team's first midweek game of the season on Tuesday against Oral Roberts. First pitch from Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field, is set for 3:00 PM.
