BOCA RATON, Fla. — After torching the baseball for going on nearly a month now, Steven Loden has been rewarded as the latest honoree of the Conference USA Hitter of the Week award, as announced on Monday by the conference office.
The redshirt freshman second baseman posted a .529 average this weekend, with three multi-hit showings and a hit in every game in the Owls’ road series win over WKU to clinch FAU’s postseason berth. He reached twice in the series opening win, with a single and a walk, and in the Friday nightcap, hit a go-ahead three-run home run as part of a 3-for-4 game. He added two more multi-hit games in a Saturday doubleheader sweep, going 2-for-5 in the opener, and 3-for-5 with a run scored in the finale.
All told in the series, Loden was on base at clip of .556 and slugged .706 for an OPS of 1.262, and played a flawless second base in 20 chances, including multiple diving plays, and as part of four Owl double plays. With his success this weekend, and dating back to April 16 against UAB, he has raised his season average from .167 to, now, .391, going 29-for-57 over that span, as the Owls have posted an 11-4 record since he reclaimed the starting 2B job.
Loden and the Owls have one more home series in 2021, this weekend, against Southern Miss at FAU Baseball Stadium. Tickets are limited, but available, by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or by logging on to FAU’s baseball tickets website.
