Cox named SEC Player of the Week
FAYETTEVILLE – Zack Cox has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday afternoon. The Louisville, Ky., native powered the Razorback offense in sweeps of McNeese State and Alabama this week with a .556 batting average (10-for-18), eight RBI, two home runs, .944 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage.
In Arkansas’ series-opening win against the Crimson Tide, Cox was 3-for-5 at the plate with a three-run home run and a career-high six RBI. With two on in the fifth inning, he put his team on the board after depositing a ball into the Razorback bullpen in left field. Cox delivered again in the eighth inning with a three-run double to clear the bases and tie the score. Later in the same inning, he came around to score the game-winning run.
Cox’s heroics continued throughout the weekend as the Hogs completed a sweep of Alabama. In game two, the Razorback sophomore had the game-tying single in the bottom of the seventh inning to knot the score at 3-3. His solo home run in the sixth inning of Sunday’s finale, once again, drew Arkansas even with Alabama on the scoreboard.
With his performance at the plate, Cox also extended his season-opening hit streak to 23 games, the longest under head coach Dave Van Horn. Cox had three multi-hit games last week to push his season total to 12. He tied a season high with three hits in the midweek finale against McNeese and series opener against Alabama. He also drew six walks-two intentionally-during the week.
On the season, Cox is second in the SEC with a team-leading .435 batting average; through six conference games, he carries a .458 batting average. Overall, Cox is second in the league with 40 hits, third with a .527 on-base percentage, tied for eighth with 27 RBI and ninth with a .641 slugging percentage.
The Razorbacks return to the field Tuesday for the beginning of a midweek series against Centenary. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Baum Stadium. Wednesday’s finale is set for a 3:05 p.m. start.
