Cal Poly Junior Outfielder Mitch Haniger Named Big West Player of the Week

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Junior Mitch Haniger, the kingpin of Cal Poly's prolific offense in a four-game weekend sweep of Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, has been named Big West Conference Player of the Week.

Haniger (Santa Clara, Calif./Archbishop Mitty HS) sparked the sweep with an impressive performance at the plate. The center fielder entered the series against the Lions with a .188 average and boosted it to .345 after batting 8-for-18 with two doubles and a home run.

Haniger had five runs scored and nine RBI as Cal Poly swept a four-game set for only the third time in its 18-year Division I history.

Haniger provided the big blow in game two of Saturday's doubleheader with a three-run shot in the fifth inning to snap a 1-1 tie.  He went 2-for-4 with four RBI, including the game-winner, to lead the Mustangs to a 6-2 victory.

Haniger posted multiple hits and multiple RBI in three of the four games to help Cal Poly improve to 7-1 on the season.

Sophomore Ryan Strufing handcuffed No. 20 Cal in a series-clinching victory for Long Beach State, earning Big West Pitcher of the Week honors. Strufing held the Bears to just five hits and one run in eight stellar innings as the 49ers claimed a 2-1 victory on Sunday. The southpaw did not issue any free passes and struck out five in the 101-pitch outing.  In two starts this season spanning 14.2 innings, Strufing has a 2-0 record with eight strikeouts and no walks.

Cal Poly, off to its best start since the 2009 squad opened 8-1 en route to an NCAA regional playoff berth, will play four games Thursday through Sunday in the Aztec Invitational at Tony Gwynn Stadium, taking on host San Diego State on Thursday, the University of San Diego on Friday, Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Saturday and the University of San Diego on Sunday.