DeLand, Fla. - Stetson's Nick Rickles has been named the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week for the week ending May 8, 2011. It is the second weekly conference award of the season and in the career of the junior out of Loxahatchee, Florida.

Rickles led the first place Hatters to a three-game sweep over Florida Gulf Coast in Fort Myers. After the first win Stetson clinched a spot in the upcoming A-Sun Tournament. The Hatters now have a magic number of two for a regular-season conference championship (tie) and three for the outright title.

In the weekend FGCU series Rickles hit .462 (7-for-12) with a home run and six RBI. His two-run home run capped a six-run rally in game two of the series. He finished the week with an .846 slugging percentage and had one sacrifice fly. Rickles led Hatters to their fourth A-Sun series sweep and eighth series win in as many attempts.

On the season he leads the team and is 5th in the A-Sun with a .377 batting average. He also leads the team in home runs (8), RBI (51) and slugging percentage (.645). He leads the team and is tied for the league lead in doubles with 19. Defensively he still leads the A-Sun in pickoffs with seven. Two more than any pitcher in the league.

Rickles, who is on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, was also named to the prestigious Golden Spikes Award 60-Man Watch List. The GS group will be narrowed down to 30 semifinalists on May31st. 

The Hatters are currently 37-10 overall this season and 20-4 in A-Sun games. This week they are ranked No. 14 in the nation by Perfect Game, No. 15 by Baseball America, No. 19 by Collegiate Baseball, and No. 22 by ESPN/USA Today.

Stetson plays Florida State at home Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. and then will host Florida International Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Melching Field.