LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (May 7, 2008) – Lincoln University of Pennsylvania junior Joe Kruemmer (Middletown, DE/Hodgson Vo-Tech) has moved into the top 10 in the weekly national NCAA statistical leaders in batting average and on-base percentage released Wednesday morning.
This week, Kruemmer is second in on-base percentage (.588) and 10th in batting average (.478). Even though Lincoln is in the process of transitioning from Division III to Division II, the Lions’ 2007-08 statistical leaders still appear under Division III. If Lincoln were eligible to be ranked among the Division II leaders, Kruemmer would lead the nation in on-base percentage and batting average.
Although Lincoln finished its season more than two weeks ago, Kruemmer has continued to rise among the national leaders. Two weeks ago, Kruemmer was 21st in batting average and last week, Kruemmer was 14th.
Despite finishing the season with a 1-22-1 record, Kruemmer shined for the Lions. He was one of six Lincoln players to finish with at least 10 hits this season. Kruemmer led Lincoln in hits with a career-high 32. It was the third straight year Kruemmer led the baseball team in hits and second straight season he finished with the highest batting average. Kruemmer had some insane numbers.
Kruemmer, who had at least one hit in 21 of Lincoln’s 24 games, seemed to sparkle whenever the situation mattered. Kruemmer batted .500 with runners in scoring position (15-for-30), .459 with the bases empty (17-for-37), .474 with two outs (9-for-19), .600 with RBI opportunities (12-for-20), .600 when leading off an inning (6-for-10) and 1.000 with a runner at third base and less than two outs (4-for-4).
Kruemmer also scored 11 runs and had a 17-game hitting streak between March 2-April 9. The hitting streak ended in the first game of a doubleheader at Briarcliffe on April 13. Kruemmer had nine multi-hit games (Saint Augustine’s, Saint Paul’s, PSU-Abington, Chestnut Hill, Lancaster Bible --both games, Shaw-both games and Briarcliffe in the
second game).
Kruemmer went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs against Penn State-Abington (RBI single in fifth and two-run single in the seventh). He also drove in three runs against Lancaster Bible in second game of doubleheader at Lancaster Bible (two-run double in fifth inning and RBI single in the seventh).
Kruemmer finished 2007 with a .421 batting average. Over the last two years, Kruemmer is hitting .526 with runners in scoring position (30-for-57). He will enter his senior season with 86 career hits.
In addition to Kruemmer, Harvey Barnes is 147th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.55). Team-wise, the Lions are 94th in strikeouts per nine innings (6.8) and 106th in stolen bases per game (1.63).
--LU--