April 1, 2003

LAS VEGAS - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending March 30th, today. Miami (Fla.) freshman first baseman/designated hitter Ryan Braun was named the National Hitter of the Week, while UNLV freshman RHP Matt Luca won the Pitcher of the Week honors. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Luca tossed the first-ever no-hitter in Mountain West Conference history and the first by a UNLV pitcher since since 1990 in a 5-0 win over San Diego State on March 28. He tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts and walked just two in picking up his second collegiate victory.

Braun went 9-for-19 (.474) during the week of March 24-30 with two home runs and 12 RBIs, powering the Hurricanes' lineup that went 4-0 last week, including a three-game sweep of No. 2 Georgia Tech.