Steve Kleen Named West Coast Conference Player of the Month
6/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 3, 2005
Malibu, Cailif. - Senior Steve Kleen, who has enjoyed one of the best all-around seasons of any Pepperdine player in recent history, was once again recognized for his outstanding play, as he was named the West Coast Conference (WCC) Player of the Month for May, the conference announced on Friday.
Kleen played a pivotal role in helping the Waves capture their second straight WCC title and third consecutive regional appearance.
The senior first baseman/closer , batted a team-best .422 (27-for-64) with nine runs scored, a home run and 14 RBI while also posting team-bests in slugging percentage (.531) and on-base percentage (.481). Additionally, he hit safely in 15 of 17 games, including the final 14 while totaling eight multiple hit games.
Kleen's lone home run was a grand slam against Loyola Marymount that helped propel the Waves to a Game 2 victory and even the WCC Championship Series at a game apiece.
As Pepperdine's closer, Kleen appeared in seven games, worked 10.1 scoreless innings, allowed four hits, three walks and struck out 11 while limiting opposing batters to a .121 average and earning six saves. Three of his saves came in the last two weekends.
In the division-clinching win over San Francisco on May 22, Kleen pitched two innings, allowed one hit, walked two and struck out two. He also earned saves in both of Pepperdine's victories in the WCC Championship Series, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out four.
In the decisive Game 3, Kleen worked three innings, allowed three hits, one walk and struck out three.
This month's selection marks the second time this season Kleen has been named the WCC's Player of the Month. He also was selected Player of the Month for February. His selection marks the fourth time in five months that a Pepperdine player has been honored with the award.
Kleen, who has a 3-3 record, 1.97 ERA and is tied for the national lead in saves with 15, is one of five finalists for the Inaugural National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award.
Kleen enters this weekend's Long Beach Regional with a streak of 12.1 scoreless innings of relief.
