Villanova University

March 23, 2010

Complete BIG EAST Release

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Villanova outfielder Matt Szczur (Erma, N.J.) has been named the BIG EAST Player of the Week and the Big Five Player of the Week for the period of March 15-21, it was announced today. In five games played last week, Szczur batted a torrid .652 to help the Wildcats go 4-1 and improve their record on the season to 14-3.

Szczur had five straight multi-hit games in last week's action, including three games with three hits and one four-hit contest. Overall he was 15-for-23 (.652) at the plate with eight runs scored, eight RBI, one double, one home run and six stolen bases. He also drew four walks and did not strike out a single time in 27 plate appearances while compiling a .704 on-base percentage and an .826 slugging percentage for the week.

In a 2-1 win over Niagara on Friday afternoon, Szczur's third hit of the day was a walk-off game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Villanova was down to its last strike with two outs and nobody on in the ninth before rallying back with two runs. Szczur also hit his first home run of the season in the eighth inning against Youngstown State on Sunday afternoon. The home run was also the 100th career hit for Szczur in just his 255th collegiate at-bat. He is a .392 career hitter for the Wildcats.

This is the first time that Szczur has earned BIG EAST Player of the Week honors and the second time the conference has recognized his play since the start of the season. On March 1, Szczur earned a spot on the league's weekly honor roll after he was named to the BIG EAST-Big Ten Challenge All-Tournament Team.

For the season, Szczur is batting an incredible .522 (35-67) and is tied for the team lead with 24 runs scored in just 14 games played. He is also tied for second on the squad with nine stolen bases and has struck out just four times in 74 plate appearances.

Villanova returns to action on Wednesday afternoon at home with a 3:15 p.m. game against Penn.