ASU outfielder Gage Canning named Pac-12 Player of the Week
Mar 19, 2018, 6:00 PM | Updated: 6:53 pm
(Sun Devil Athletics photo)
(Sun Devil Athletics photo)
After an incredible individual performance last week, especially in ASU’s three-game sweep against Oregon, junior outfielder Gage Canning was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week.
ASU went 3-1 over the course of the week as Canning had two home runs, two triples, seven RBIs and scored eight runs while going 10-17 (.588).
In the three games against Oregon, Canning had eight consecutive hits, the longest streak for an ASU player since 1999 and the third longest in Sun Devil history.
In ASU’s 18-4 blowout win on Saturday against the Ducks, Canning went 5-5 while scoring five runs, batting in four RBIs and hitting two home runs. One of the home runs was an inside the park home run, ASU’s first since 2012.
This season, Canning is leading the NCAA with 42 hits while having the fourth-best batting average (.506) in the nation.
Canning, who leads every active player with 22 career triples, is also leading the NCAA this season with eight triples. If Canning keeps up this pace for the remaining 35 games he could break the NCAA single-season record of 17 triples.
The Sun Devil outfielder is only four triples behind ASU’s career record held by Alan Bannister and Ed Irvine with 26 triples, which was set in the 1970s. The NCAA career record is a little farther out of reach at 32.
Canning is also leading the Pac-12 with 72 total bases, eight doubles and batting average.
ASU will be looking to extend its three-game win streak with the help of Canning’s play against UNLV this Tuesday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
