Feb. 12, 2007

A pair of players that made their debuts in Conference USA take home the league's first baseball weekly honors of the 2007 season. Rice freshman righthander Ryan Berry has been named the C-USA Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the period ending February 11, while Houston sophomore designated hitter Jimmy Cesario was named Hitter of the Week.

In his first collegiate start, Berry fired six shutout innings against No. 20 Baylor for a convincing win. He held the Bears to three hits and one walk while striking out seven. Berry held 21 hitters faced to a combined .220 batting average and did not allow a runner past second base, letting just two players into scoring position.

Cesario was the only Cougar to hit safely in all four games last week, going 8-for-12 (.750) with three walks while facing two nationally-ranked opponents. He had an RBI in three of the four games, smacking a double and a home run, while scoring three times. Cesario reached base safely in eight of his first 10 plate appearances, posting three straight multi-hit games to open the season.