AIKEN, S.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken baseball standout Joseph Benitez has been named the South Carolina Education Lottery USC Aiken Student-Athlete of the Month for April.
Benitez guided the Pacers to a 13-2 overall record during the month while going 4-0 o the mound with a miniscule 0.99 ERA.
Benitez, a native of Crofton, Md., appeared in five games, earning four starts. He tossed 27.1 innings and gave up just three earned runs. Benitez struck out 32 batters while walking just five. He held opponents to a mere .214 batting average while combining for one shutout.
Against Augusta, Benitez worked seven innings and struck out six while giving up an earned run. He struck out the lone batter he faced in the midweek win at Newberry. Against Francis Marion, Benitez threw eight innings and struck out 10 batters. He did not give up an earned run in the win.
At Montevallo, Benitez fanned seen batters in six innings. He struck out eight batters in the five-inning performance against Chowan.
The South Carolina Education Lottery USC Aiken Athletic Department Student-Athlete of the Month award honors one student-athlete each month from an in-season sport for their hard work and effort. Each month during the 2016-17 athletic year one winner will be chosen from an in-season sport.
