4/30-Wikoff named to Wallace Award watch list

LUBBOCK, Texas - Illinois junior shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.) was named to the watch list for the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award, which this year will be given to the nations top shortstop. Since 2004, the Wallace Award has been given to the national player of the year, but the change was made following the creation of the College Baseball Awards Show earlier this year. The Dick Howser Trophy will now be given to the national player of the year. Wikoff is the only Big Ten shortstop on the watch list for the award that will be presented on the College Baseball Awards Show on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas. Wikoff has had a standout junior season, as he currently leads Illinois with a .370 average while starting all 40 games at shortstop. He leads the Illini with 61 hits, 43 runs, five triples and 94 total bases. He also has 20 walks for a .439 on-base percentage, and has struck out a mere six times to make him the third-toughest hitter to strike out in the nation. Hes also stolen 9-of-12 bases on the season, is reaching base 61 percent of the time when he leads off an inning and has 11 two-out RBIs. Wikoff has collected 17 multiple-hit games, second-most on the Illini team, and has a team-best three games with four hits. He had a 14-game hitting streak from March 6-29 and became the first Illinois player to hit for the cycle in 19 years when he accomplished the feat on April 7. Wikoff and the Illini travel to Northwestern this weekend for a three-game series with the Wildcats. Fridays opener begins at 3 p.m., while games on Saturday and Sunday both start at 1 p.m.