Baseball player Adam Engel named Player of the Week

By Xavier Bleuel–

The Big East handed out its second weekly award for collegiate baseball’s top player, and Louisville’s own junior center fielder Adam Engel brought home the honor for the Cardinals.

No. 4 Louisville had a perfect week, going 4-0. Engel led the way, hitting  .400 with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs, six runs scored and a perfect eight-for-eight in stolen bases during the week.

Junior left-handed pitcher and Engel’s roommate, Cody Ege, spoke about his teammate’s accomplishment.

“With him winning the Big East player of the week, it’s cool to have him around the locker room,” Ege revealed. “But he’s one of the most humble people I’ve ever met. He walks around like nothing happened. He’s a people person; he helps you out through struggles. He simply stands out. He’s an influencing person and knows what he’s doing out there on the field.”

In the Cardinals’ 17-6 rout of Eastern Kentucky University, Engel hit .600, or 3 of 5, with four RBI and three runs scored. Against Akron, Engel tied a school record and became the fifth Cardinal in history to record four stolen bases.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Kyle McGrath spoke on one game that stood out from the rest.

“In the Akron game’s first or second inning, Engel scored the first run. Then in the bottom of the 8th inning, he gets on and scores the game-winning run. It just proves how great of a base runner he really is.”

McGrath also spoke about Engel’s importance to the team.

“He’s very important; he’s our leader, our captain. He’s one of the best outfielders I’ve ever seen.”

The 6-1 center fielder from Cincinnati is the Big East’s leader in stolen bases with 12.

“He is a fantastic leader,” said sophomore left-handed pitcher Joe Filomeno. “Watching him covering ground in the outfield and steal bases is an awesome thing to watch.”

In regard to his teammate’s uncanny ability on the bases, Filomeno added, “He’s one of the best base runners in the country.”

As the Big East preseason favorite, the University of Louisville Cardinals have pulled off seven straight wins after dropping their opening game against Indiana. Next up for Louisville is a three-game home stand against Kent State.

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Photos by Pete Cautilli/The Louisville Cardinal