Milner Honored as Co-Big 12 Player of the Week

April 12, 2005

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Junior outfielder Gus Milner has been honored as the Big 12’s Co-Player of the Week after he turned in an outstanding week at the plate helping the the University of Kansas down in-state rival Wichita State and post a victory in their series finale at Oklahoma.

Milner shared the weekly honor with infielder Cameron Blair of Texas Tech while Pitcher of the Week honors went to J. Brent Cox of the University of Texas.

In Wednesday’s contest against the Shockers, Milner blasted a pair of home runs with six RBI in a 4-for-5 performance at the plate. Milner added a double and a single in the game to fall only a triple short of hitting for the cycle. The two-home run performance was the second of the season for Milner, who also slammed a pair of long-balls against Stanford on Feb. 12.

Although he missed out on the cycle, Milner would place his name in the KU record books during the week as he completed another rarity in baseball — an inside-the-park home run. With the Jayhawks needing a rally against the Sooners on Saturday, Milner stepped to the plate with a pair of runners on base and blasted a ball off the wall in center field that eluded the outfielder. Milner came around to score KU’s first inside-the-park round tripper since Ryan Baty’s against Texas Tech on April 13, 2003.

For the season, Milner is batting .341 with 30 RBI and is tied for the team lead in doubles (11) and home runs (6).

Milner becomes the third KU player this season to earn the recognition as both junior outfielders Matt Baty and A.J. Van Slyke have each received the accolade.