May 6, 2009

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University junior catcher Tyson Van Winkle has been named the West Coast Conference/Rawlings April Player of the Month, the conference announced Wednesday.

Van Winkle finished the month 33-for-67 (.493) at the plate to lead all hitters in the WCC, he also recorded seven doubles, two home runs, drove in 20 runs while slugging .687 and posting a .551 on-base percentage. He recorded hits in 13 of Gonzaga's 16 games including 12 multi-hit games. One stretch saw the Vancouver, Wash. native record hits in eight straight at-bats while producing a five-hit game and a four-hit game in consecutive games. He also took home one WCC/Rawlings Player of the Week award in the month.

Van Winkle enters the Zags final six games leading the team in hitting (.378), hits (70), doubles (21), slugging (.557) and second in RBI (48) and on-base percentage (.445). His 21 doubles are also tops in the conference.