James Jones Earns Akadema/Northeast Conference Baseball Rookie of the Week Award

3/26/07 -- After a strong performance in the Blackbirds’ first home series of the season, Long Island University first baseman James Jones (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was named the Akadema/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week. The freshman hit .545 over three games last week, including a 3-for-4 performance in Long Island’s 12-inning, 7-6 win over Lafayette on March 24.

Jones came up a home run shy of hitting for the cycle against the Leopards, driving in four runs. His second-inning triple opened the scoring and a two-run double in the fifth cut Lafayette’s lead to 5-4. Jones’ sacrifice fly in the eighth tied the score at 6-6.

In the Blackbirds’ second game of the day, a 3-2, 10-inning loss to Binghamton, Jones broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer to deep right field. It was his second blast of the season. Jones added a single in Long Island’s 12-2 loss to Binghamton on March 25.

Jones leads the NEC in triples (three) and slugging percentage (.861). He is also third in the conference in hitting (.432), fourth in RBIs (14) and sixth in on-base percentage (.488).

The Blackbirds return to action on Tuesday, March 27, with a visit to Manhattan.