BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gustavus baseball players Adam Biewen (Jr., Golden Valley) and Chris Knowles (Jr., New Ulm) were named MIAC Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, on Monday.
Biewen had the best pitching performance of his collegiate career on May 2, tossing a complete-game shutout against then-conference leading Bethel. Biewen allowed just two hits in the nine-inning shutout while striking out eight batters. Biewen, who did not walk a single batter in the 8-0 win, dropped his ERA from 5.02 to 3.09.
Knowles hit .471 (8-for-17) as the Gusties went 4-1 last week to secure the MIAC regular season championship and No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. Knowles went 4-for-6 in a doubleheader sweep over then-conference leading Bethel on May 2. He posted his third straight multi-hit game in a decisive win over Crown on May 3, highlighted by a grand slam. He then extended his hit streak to eight games with a pair of hits in a critical split against St. Olaf on May 7. In the five games, Knowles scored eight runs, drove home eight, hit two doubles, belted two home runs – one of which was a grand slam – and added three walks, all while improving his batting average from .284 to .308.