Dugas and Townsend Named Players of the Week
4/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama sophomore center fielder Taylor Dugas and junior right-hand pitcher Jason Townsend were named the Alabama coaching staff players of the week, head coach Mitch Gaspard announced Monday.
Dugas had a phenomenal week, going 8-for-16 (.500) with seven runs scored, seven walks, three RBI, two hit by pitch and two stolen bases. He reached base in 17 of his 25 plate appearances for a .680 on-base mark in five games. He accounted for one-quarter of the Tide's runs and hits last week.
Dugas hit .700 (7-for-10) in the Auburn series and scored four runs. He went 3-for-5 and scored two runs in the series opener. He was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and three walks in the Tide's series-clinching win on Saturday. His seventh-inning single ignited the Tide's three-run rally that gave Alabama a 6-4 lead. He was 3-for-3 and reached base all four times in the series finale.
"Taylor continues to play at a high level each and every day," Gaspard said. "He is an outstanding player and having an All-American-type season. I don't know of a better leadoff hitter in the country. He is always on base and always creating offense for our team."
For the season, Dugas leads the SEC with a .467 batting average and is second in the league to UA teammate Jon Kelton (.607 on-base) with a .598 on-base percentage.
Townsend had a solid week on the mound and picked up his first career win in the Tide's series-clinching win over Auburn on Saturday. Against the Tigers, he worked two scoreless innings and allowed one hit with three strikeouts and two walks. He retired all three batters he faced in the sixth inning and the struck out Auburn DH Kevin Patterson (who had already hit two home runs) to end the seventh inning with the Tigers holding a one-run lead. Alabama got three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the 6-5 win.
In two games last week, Townsend was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. He worked four innings and allowed one unearned run and one hit with five strikeouts and no walks. He held opponents to a .071 batting average. Townsend pitched two innings against Jacksonville State on March 30.
"Jason has really improved over the last week in the bullpen," Gaspard said. "We think he can have key role for this team down the stretch and I like what I saw from him last week against Jacksonville and Auburn."
Alabama will host UAB on Tuesday, April 6, at 6:35 p.m. (CDT) and play at Jacksonville State on Wednesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. (CDT). Both games will be carried on the Crimson Tide Sports Network (WFFN-FM, 95.3 in Tuscaloosa).
