MARIETTA, Ohio — A record-breaking performance from Marietta College senior center fielder #John Snyder (Altoona, Pa./Altoona)# earned him NCAA Division III National Hitter of the Week honors for the week of April 18-24, 2011, as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Snyder, who was also named the OAC Hitter of the Week, batted .615 (8-for-13 with a 1.462 slugging percentage, collecting three home runs, two doubles, two stolen bases, eight runs scored and 13 RBI in three victories last week for the No. 1 Etta Express. He went 5-for-5 with a single, double, and school record-tying three home runs in game one of a twin bill against Muskingum, and tied both OAC and school records with 10 RBI.  He hit a three-run shot in the second, a two-run blast in the third, and a grand slam in the fourth. Synder was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in the second game and was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored in a win over La Roche. He is hitting a team-best .455 overall, including .523 against Conference opponents, with 15 doubles, four home runs, 28 runs scored, 41 RBI and seven stolen bases. 

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-America awards, publication and writing contests.

Marietta (27-3, 11-1 OAC) will return to the field at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 30) when it plays host to Otterbein University in a Community Day doubleheader to start Alumni Weekend. The Pioneers will then play host to John Carroll University a 1 p.m. Sunday (May 1) and then University of Pitt.-Greensburg at 4 p.m. Monday (May 2).