NCAC designates Groff as Athlete of the Week

CLEVELAND, Ohio — After helping the Kenyon College baseball team pick up a pair of walk-off wins last week, Edwin Groff garnered Athlete of the Week recognition from the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The award marked the second time in Groff’s career that the designated hitter has been designated as an NCAC Athlete of the Week.

While the Owls could only get two games in last week due to the weekend’s weather, Kenyon made the most of the outings by picking up the team’s first two NCAC victories. Groff played a big part in the pair of games against Hiram College, helping the Owls lock up two walk-off wins at home with a big day at the plate.

Over the doubleheader, the senior was 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate with four runs and three RBIs. Groff started out hot in game one, hitting 4-for-6 (.667) with two singles, a double, and a triple. The designated hitter also added a stolen base, and he scored four of the team’s 14 runs, tying the Terriers’ total output. One of Groff’s runs was the game-winner as the Owls walked off with a 14-4 win by run rule after he came around to score in the eighth inning. 

Groff had one of the most important hits in game two, helping the Owls stay alive against Hiram. Kenyon faced a 4-3 deficit in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the home team was down to its final out with Groff at the plate. The senior came through in the big spot, hitting an RBI single that tied the game and allowed the Owls to wrap up another walk-off win in the 11th inning.

On the season, Groff is leading qualified Kenyon hitters in batting average (.405), on-base percentage (.459), slugging percentage (.662), hits (30), runs (19), and RBIs (16) while tying for first in doubles (5) and home runs (4). Amongst NCAC players, he ranks fifth in slugging percentage, sixth in batting average, and is tied for fifth in homers.

Groff and the Owls will look to add to their winning streak this week as the schedule includes a game at Allegheny College on Thursday, April 10, and a doubleheader at home against DePauw University on Saturday, April 12.