Rob Lawler Named MAC East Player of the Week

Batted .500 and a 1.050 slugging percentage in five games

BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo junior Rob Lawler has been named the Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week on April 13. Lawler led the Bulls' offensive efforts in tying their longest win streak of four games since the program's reinstatement at the Division I-level in 2000.

Rob Lawler

In the Bulls' doubleheader versus Big Four rival Niagara University, Lawler went a combined 4-for-6 with three RBIs and six runs. In both contests, he went 2-for-3 with three runs. In the opener, he hit an RBI triple to left-center to put the Bulls in a commanding 12-2 lead. He continued to add to his day's total with an RBI single in the nightcap followed by a lead-off home run to start the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the opening contest of the Bulls' weekend conference series with MAC opponent Western Michigan, Lawler went 3-for-4 with an RBI single. In the Bulls' 12-3 victory over the Broncos, he hit a two-RBI double down the right-field line to put the Bulls ahead 7-0. Lawler finished his offensive effort with a two-RBI triple in the weekend finale.

For the week, Lawler batted .500 by going 10-for-20 with both nine RBIs and runs scored. He hit a slugging percentage of 1.050 in the five contests with two doubles, three triples and a home run while collecting 21 total bases.

This marks the first time this season a Bull has won the MAC East Division Player of the Week. Previously, two Bulls have earned the honor of MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week for a total of four times with Pierre Miville-Deschenes earning the honor March 3 and 30 and fellow Bull Mike Stangroom earning the honor on February 24 and March 11.

Lawler and the Bulls (14-18, 3-8 MAC) will finish their two-week homestand this week with back-to-back non-conference matchups before returning on the road for a conference weekend series versus Miami (OH). On Tuesday, April 14, the Bulls will face Big Four rival Canisius with the first pitch set for 3:00 pm. The Canisius-Buffalo game will be televised on TWCS-Buffalo Channel 13 in the Western New York area on Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 pm and Friday, April 17 at 3:00 pm. The Bulls will return the next day on Wednesday, April 15 when they face Le Moyne College with the first pitch set for 4:00 pm.