PORTLAND, Ore. – After arguably the greatest individual four-game series performance in the history of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Montana State University Billings senior second baseman
Brody Miller has been named the GNAC baseball Player of the Week for the second time this season announced by the conference office Monday.
"Brody was tremendous this weekend," commented MSUB head coach
Rob Bishop. "He came up in big spot after big spot and kept on delivering for us. It was the best offensive four-game series I have ever personally witnessed. Brody is deserving of the GNAC Player of the Week honor."
Miller became just the seventh player ever to hit four home runs and just the third among those players to have two of those home runs be grand slams. Miller hit 10-for-18 (.556) with 14 RBIs, three doubles, eight runs scored, three walks – including two intentional passes – and was hit by a pitch. He reached base in 14 of 22 plate appearances (.636 OBP) and collected 25 total bases (1.389 SLG). Miller struck out just once in those 25 times up, and also made 15 plays at second base with just one error. His effort at the plate helped MSUB to a 3-1 series victory over Central Washington University that kept the 'Jackets in second place in the
GNAC standings.In
Game 1 with MSUB trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Miller hit his first grand slam of the weekend. The shot over the fence in left field sparked MSUB's offense, in the eventual 11-8 victory. He finished the first game 2-for-4 with five RBIs.
In
Game 3, Miller helped the Yellowjackets tie a program record for runs in a game in a 21-8 victory, as he hit a grand slam and a two-run home run while going 3-for-6 at the plate and driving in six. He also added a double and scored three times.
In Game 4, Miller was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and hit his fourth home run of the series while driving in three. He came up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. In his final plate appearance of the series, with the score tied at 9-9 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Miller stepped to the plate with the bases empty. Even though he represented the game-winning run, Central Washington elected to walk him intentionally to avoid his bat.
Among the other players in GNAC history to hit four home runs in a single four-game series against one opponent, Miller had the most doubles (3), second most runs (8), hits (10), RBIs (14) and walks (3), and the fewest strikeouts with just one.
Among the two other players to hit two grand slams and at least four home runs in a series, Miller is the only one whose other two home runs accounted for more than just solo blasts.
Players with 4 Home Runs in a 4-Game Series in GNAC History (Beginning 2002 Season)
Name | School (Yr.) | AB | R | H | RBI | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | IBB | SB | HBP | SO | PO | A | E | AVG | Record |
Brody Miller | MSUB (2015) | 18 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | .556 | 3-1 |
Colby Robison | MSUB (2013) | 16 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 0 | .563 | 3-1 |
Kyle Sani | CWU (2013) | 15 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 0 | .533 | 1-3 |
Bo Folkinga | WOU (2012) | 16 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 3-1 |
Jamie Nilsen | CWU (2008) | 19 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 | .579 | 3-1 |
Mike McRae | WOU (2005) | 16 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4-0 |
Chris Ridnour | WOU (2002) | 18 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 | .556 | 4-0 |
Miller is now leading the GNAC in hits (55), home runs (12), RBIs (46), total bases (104) and is second in runs scored (37), and slugging percentage (.722). His 12 home runs and counting are an MSUB single-season record.
Miller also won
GNAC Player of the Week honors after helping MSUB to a 3-1 series victory over Saint Martin's on March 27-28. Miller, junior center fielder
Luke Reinschmidt, junior infielder
Kyle Durbin, and sophomore right-handed pitcher
Cody Cooper have each won
GNAC Player of the Week honors this season.
Miller is now eligible to win the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association West Region Player of the Week honor, which will be announced Tuesday. The eight winners of the regional award then become finalists for the NCBWA National Player of the Week honor, which will be announced Wednesday. Earlier this season,
Reinschmidt became just the second-ever player in GNAC history to claim NCBWA National Player of the Week accolades, as he hit four home runs in an eight-game stretch early on for the 'Jackets.