Fernley Repeats as MWC Pitcher of Week

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Feb. 13, 2001)--BYU senior right-handed pitcher Nate Fernley and San Diego State junior second baseman Carlo Cota and are the Mountain West Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively.

Fernley, from Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach CC), became the first pitcher to claim the MWC weekly honor in back-to-back weeks. Dating back to last season, he has won the award three weeks in a row.

In the Cougars' 10-6 win on Feb. 5, Fernley struck out 15 San Francisco Dons in seven innings while walking just two. His 15 K's ranks third best in school history. In BYU's 4-0 blanking of California on Feb. 10, he fanned 10 Bears while allowing just three hits in his second complete outing of the season. Fernley retired the Bears in order in the first,second, third, fifth and seventh innings. Fernley is 4-0 on the season and is averaging 13.4 strikeouts per contest.

Cota, from Calexico, Calif. (Calexico HS), went 5-for-11 (.455) with seven RBI, two doubles and struck out just once in three games this past week. He led San Diego State to two victories in a three-game set against Houston. Cota went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs in SDSU's 13-7 loss on Feb. 10, followed by a 2-for-4 performance with two RBI in the Aztecs' 5 4 win on Feb. 11. In that game, Cota doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. After Houston tied the game in the eight, Cota singled in the game-winner with the bases loaded in the ninth. This is the first player of the week honor for Cota of his career.