(LEBANON, Ill., May 6)--For the second straight week, players from Missouri Baptist University have earned the American Midwest Conference Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week awards. The final weekly honors were announced Tuesday morning.

The Spartans' Joel Johnson collected AMC Player of the Week honors for the second week in a row, while Aaron Byington was named the AMC Pitcher of the Week for May 6. In addition to their conference recognition, both Johnson and Byington have earned the distinction of winning the last NAIA Region V Player and Pitcher of the Week honors to be awarded.

Johnson, a senior designated hitter from Camas, Wash., batted .667 during the American Midwest Conference Tournament with eight hits in 12 at-bats. He had a double and home run along with five RBI in the three Spartans' victories. Johnson also scored six runs as Missouri Baptist claimed its second consecutive AMC Tournament championship.

Byington, a senior right-hander from Bonne Terre, Mo., opened the AMC Tournament with a 6-0 complete-game victory against Harris-Stowe State University. Byington allowed just five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The win pushed Byington's record to 7-2 on the season with an earned-run average of 2.95.

Missouri Baptist will take a 37-14 overall record into the NAIA Region V Tournament, which begins on Wednesday, May 7 on the campus of Lindenwood University. The Spartans earned the No. 1 seed in the six-team, double-elimination event and will face Culver-Stockton College in the tournament opener on Wednesday at 12 noon.