KULBACKI COLLECTS TWO NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 16, 2007 (updated April 17) ? Junior outfielder Kellen Kulbacki (Palmyra, Pa./Hershey) was named a “Louisville Slugger” National Player of the Week for his performance in four games last week as announced by Collegiate Baseball magazine Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, Kulbacki added the Pro-Line Athletic National Hitter of the Week honor from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also honored as the Colonial Athletic Association Co-Player of the Week.

Kulbacki went 11-for-16 (.688) last week with five walks to reach base in 16 of 21 plate appearances (.762 on-base percentage). He hit four home runs in four games, including his third multiple-home run game of the season, and added three doubles for 26 total bases and a 1.625 slugging percentage. He also scored 10 runs, drove in 11, and stole a base. Kulbacki's week included a span of six consecutive at bats with base hits and eight consecutive plate appearances reaching base. He had multiple hits in each of the four games and nine total bases on Wednesday and Friday. For the season, he is now hitting .429 (up from .393 last week) with 35 runs, 12 doubles, 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, an .850 slugging percentage, and a .533 on-base percentage.

Ranked ninth in the CAA at the start of the week, Kulbacki vaulted to first in batting average in the CAA with his performance. He is also eighth in the conference in hits (57), second in home runs, eighth in RBIs, tied for first in total bases (113), first in walks (30), first in on-base percentage, and first in slugging.

Kulbacki continues to put a dent on the JMU record books, increasing his career home run record to 46. The two home runs on Friday pulled him into a tie for the JMU career extra-base hits record with 97. The 26 total bases helped him to jump from ninth to sixth with 412 in his career. Kulbacki increased his career batting average to .408, just one point shy of Eddie Kim's JMU record of .409. He also increased his margin as the school's current career slugging percentage leader. His mark of .767 leads Carey Nemeth's .740 percentage that stood as the record entering the season.

Delaware's Bryan Hagerich shared both the national and conference honor with Kulbacki. He went 8-for-13 with four homers, nine RBIs, and six runs. Three pitchers were also recognized among the national award winners.

Kulbacki's week also included being honored Thursday night at JMU's Male Athlete of the Year for his sensational sophomore season in 2006.

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