WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Monmouth University Baseball sophomore Alex Barker (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) has been named the John Olerud Award Two-Way Player of the Week, officials from the National College Baseball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.
 
In last Wednesday's doubleheader against Rider, Barker contributed on the mound and offensively for the Blue and White. He fired five one-run innings in starting the opener, striking out four and walking none, allowing Monmouth won the game in the later innings. In the second game, Barker went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and a run scored, including launching his team-leading fourth home run of the season to dead center field.
 
For the season, Barker is Monmouth's leading hitter, batting .357 with four home runs, four doubles and 11 RBI's, all of which lead MU. He has scored 10 times and drawn 10 walks while getting on base at a .538 clip and slugging .929. On the mound, Barker is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts, allowing just three earned runs in 16 innings and surrendering only one walk.
 
The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation to honor the nation's top combo pitcher-position player. Olerud, who was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, was a standout pitcher and first baseman at Washington State University from 1987 through 1989. Barker was not listed on the initial Watch List this season for the award, but the list is updated throughout the season.
 
Barker and the Hawks are back in action tomorrow against Rider, with a doubleheader beginning at noon. The games will air on ESPN+.