PacWest Weekly Awards (Feb. 20)

IRVINE, Calif. – Following a week where he collected a hit in over half of his trips to the plate while helping Academy of Art to a 3-2 mark, ART U baseball senior outfielder Hayato Niki was named the Pacific West Conference Player of the Week after he batted .550 (11-for-20) with eight runs scored, two doubles, two RBI and a stolen base. The award is for games played from Feb. 13-19. 

Notching multiple hits in four out of the week's five games, Niki was often a rally-starter for the Urban Knights in the nine hole of the order that essentially served as a double-leadoff spot, including the solo non-conference comeback 9-8 win over Central Washington where he went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored to tie both his career-high and the program record (first ART U four-hit game of the season). In the opening of a three-game set with Cal State East Bay Niki did a bit of everything, going 2-for-3 in his trips to the dish while scoring twice, driving one in and swiping a his only bag of the week. His bat continued to sizzle in game two where he was 3-for-4 with a season-high three runs scored and his first two doubles of the campaign, while the series finale saw Niki end 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. 

This is the first PacWest weekly award this season for both Academy of Art and Niki, as well as the first such honor of Niki's career. He is the first Urban Knight to earn since Charles Morgan did so last season on Feb. 21, 2022.