April 21, 2014
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois third baseman Ryne Roper was tabbed Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career, announced the conference office Monday. Roper led the Illini with a .417 average (5-for-12) during the sweep of Penn State in Happy Valley. The Harrisburg, Ill., native scored three runs and notched three RBI on the weekend.
Roper posted two-hit games in the series opener and finale, boosting his average in Big Ten play to .340. He also had a perfect fielding percentage at the hot corner with four assists and three putouts. Roper is the first Illini to win the award this season, with Illinois' last Big Ten Freshman of the Week going to Kevin Duchene (May 13, 2013).
Up Next: Illinois will play a pair of midweek games before hosting first-place Indiana at home this weekend (April 25-27). The Illini will play Eastern Illinois at Illinois Field on Tuesday at 6 p.m. followed by a trip to St. Louis for the rescheduled game against Missouri at Busch Stadium on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
