Burlingame, Pansini, and DeStefano Earn MAAC Baseball Weekly Honors
Player of the Week
Jake Burlingame, Canisius
Sr., Horseheads, NY/ Horseheads
Preseason All-MAAC selection Jake Burlingame had a strong start to the season, tallying seven hits, including two home runs, and collecting four steals during the Griffs' opening weekend against UMass Lowell. The senior kicked off the season on Friday by recording one hit and hit-by-pitch, then proceeding to swipe two bases and score twice for Canisius. In the first game of Saturday's twinbill, the outfielder racked up three hits, including a two-run blast, to record three RBIs and three runs scored, also walking once and stealing two more bases. The second game Saturday saw Burlingame double once and walk once, while making his first career pitching appearance, going 1.2 innings in relief. Sunday capped off the weekend with Burlingame launching a solo shot as part of a two-hit day.
Pitcher of the Week
Alex Pansini, Marist
Jr., Westfield, NJ / Westfield
In six innings of work at South Florida, Pansini struck out seven while giving up just two hits and three walks. He allowed no runs and no extra base hits to lead the Red Foxes to their first win of the 2020 campaign.
Rookie of the Week
Mike DeStefano, Canisius
Fr., Liverpool, NY / Liverpool
Mike DeStefano had a stellar start to his collegiate career, hitting .429 over three games. The younger brother of fellow Griff Jeff DeStefano, Mike made the most of his first collegiate at-bat, doubling to leadoff an eight-run inning for Canisius in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, recording an RBI-single later in the game. The freshman then recorded another hit in the second half of the twinbill, coming around to score for the Blue and Gold. The infielder then finished the weekend with a walk and RBI in the series finale.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 39
th year of competition during the 2019-20 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.