Baseball’s Braxton Lewis Named UNCP Athlete Of The Week

PEMBROKE – Having played a crucial role in the UNCP baseball team's perfect run through four games last week, including its first-ever series sweep of then-No. 9 Georgia College, junior right-hander pitcher Braxton Lewis has been named this week's UNCP Athlete of the Week, athletic department officials announced Monday.

Lewis, a Seven Springs native and South Lenoir High School product, was lights-out in a trio of relief appearances for UNCP last week, recording a 0-0 record with two saves and a 0.00 ERA in 3-1/3 innings of work in which he booked five strikeouts, allowed just one hit and held opponents to a paltry .091 batting average. He retired the sides in order in three different frames on the week, including one in a series-clinching victory against the Bobcats on Saturday.

A transfer from Barton where he played each of his first two years, Lewis made his first appearance of the week against his former club, striking out a pair of Bulldogs in a hitless ninth inning en route to securing a 5-1 midweek victory. He worked the final out of the eighth, and then retired all three batters he faced in the ninth in saving game one against Georgia College, and then retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning of game two to preserve a 4-3 triumph for the Braves.

Having made 18 relief appearances already this season, Lewis has recorded a 4-0 record and a 0.00 ERA in 29-1/3 innings of work with 31 strikeouts and seven walks. He has limited opponents to a miniscule .141 batting average and has surrendered just 14 hits on the campaign as well.