Feb. 23, 2009

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle and sophomore pitcher Cody Martin have been named West Coast Conference Player and Co-Pitcher of the Week, respectively, announced by the Conference Monday.

Van Winkle earns his first career WCC weekly accolade after going 9-for-18 (.500) with four doubles, one home run, nine RBI, five runs scored and a .889 slugging percentage in the Zags' four games over the weekend. The Vancouver, Wash. native recorded two three-hit games over the weekend, the first came in the 9-3 win over #10 University of Missouri and the second in the 14-2 win over the University of Nevada both on Saturday. Van Winkle also scored two runs, had a double and homerun and also drove in a career-high five in the rout over Nevada. He closed out the weekend with two doubles and two RBI in the 13-9 win over #10 Missouri Sunday.

Martin limited #10 Missouri to one earned run on three hits and struck out six over seven innings to earn the win on Saturday. The Dos Palos, Calif. native held the Tiger offense in check throughout the day, retiring five of the seven lead-off batters of an inning he faced and not allowing a hit until the fourth inning. It is the second career WCC Player of the Week award for Martin. He shares the award with Nate Garcia of Santa Clara University.

Gonzaga rebounded from an opening-night loss by winning the next three games to close out the weekend with a 3-1 record.

Next up the Bulldogs is a Tuesday night non-conference matchup against Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.