WALTHAM, Mass. — Two Brandeis University student-athletes have been recognized by the University Athletic Association (UAA) as Athlete of the Week for May 3rd. Third baseman Jonathan Chu of Hollis Hills, N.Y., was honored for baseball, and pitcher Marianne Specker of South Windsor, Conn., was honored for softball. Both Chu and Specker are members of the sophomore class.
Chu was recognized as the UAA player of week for his top performance at the plate. He batted .476 in a 2-3 week for the Judges with four doubles, six runs scored, and seven RBI. He started with a 2-for-3 performance adding a double, a sacrifice fly, and two RBI in an 11-6 win over University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth on Tuesday. The following day, Chu produced a career-high five hits in six at-bats, with two doubles, three RBI, and a career-best four runs scored in a wild 17-15 win over Bowdoin College. He hit two RBI singles in the decisive nine-run eighth inning. Chu also batted 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in a 15-8 loss at Keene State on Thursday. Chu finished the 2010 campaign having started in 34 of 35 regular season games for the Judges. He batted .325, good for second on the team, along with his 22 RBIs. Chu led the team in on-base percentage (.392), walks, with 11, and was third on the team in slugging percentage (.439).
Specker also made her presence known at the plate, pacing the Judges to a 5-1 week, including four wins over regionally-ranked teams. She batted .647 (11 for 17) with two walks, three stolen bases, two doubles, and a home run for a .941 slugging percentage. She also contributed a team-leading 10 RBI. She hit safely in all six contests, five of which were two-hit games. She registered three multi-RBI games, including a 2-for-3 performance with three RBI in a 6-5 win over Rhode Island College on Thursday, and a 2-for-3 outing with a double and two driven in an 11-3 win over Emerson College on Friday. Specker finished the week batting 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored, and her fourth home run of the season in a 9-1 win over Framingham State College on Sunday. She wrapped up the regular season starting every game for Brandeis softball, contributing a .421 batting average, second best among the starters. Her hits (47), doubles (11), and RBIs (35) were good for second, while her .477 on-base percentage was best on the team. Specker and the 18th ranked Judges await the announcement of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament standings to determine their next opponent.
Chu is 2008 graduate of Bronx High School of Science. He is the son of Donald Chu and Carol Zuses-Chu, Hollis Hills, N.Y.
Specker is a 2008 graduate of the Westminster School. She is the daughter of Ken and Carol Specker, Windsor, Conn.