PacWest Release

Phoenix, AZ – Junior infielder Zach Babitt has represented Academy of Art University on the Pacific West Conference Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll yet again. After pushing his season-best hitting streak to four games and raising his batting average nearly 100 points in that span, Babitt stayed hot in the series opener with Hawaii Pacific this past Sunday. The honor was announced by the PacWest Media Office in Phoenix, AZ, on Monday, Mar. 21 for games contested on Mar. 14-20.

A mere two games removed from his historic 4-for-4 performance against Grand Canyon on Mar. 12, Babitt actually reached base five times against HPU in game one on Mar. 20. He was 4-for-4 in the contest with three runs batted in, two runs scored, a double, and a walk.

With a hand in five of the six runs ART U scored in the game, Babitt began by earning a walk in his first at-bat then followed by hitting a RBI single for the Urban Knights' first score in the fourth inning. At the plate with another runner in scoring position in the sixth, the junior infielder again delivered a RBI single. Babitt would help Academy of Art initiate a two-run rally in the eighth via a single and doubled home yet another teammate in the ninth as the Knights attempted a spirited comeback.

“Zach is having some good at-bats right now; he's hitting the ball on a line and it's falling for him,” Head Coach Brian Guinn said. “It's fortunate for us that guys are on base when he's doing it. We hope it continues because baseball is one of those games with peaks and valleys. Right now he's at one of those peaks and we hope he can keep it there.”

Babitt completed the week's two games 4-for-7 (.571) with three RBIs, two runs scored, one double, and one walk. He added a .714 slugging percentage and posted a .625 on-base percentage.

This is Babitt's second PacWest Weekly Top 10 honor in 2011.