University of Evansville sophomore baseball player Trentt Copeland (Guelph, Ontario/John F. Ross CVI) has been named this week’s Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week, MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.  Copeland becomes the second Diamond Ace to earn the award so far this year.

Copeland garnered the Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week award this week after helping the Purple Aces to three wins with a team-best .389 batting average (7-for-18), three doubles, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.  Copeland capped UE’s five-run rally in an 8-4 victory over nationally-ranked Kentucky last Wednesday with a two-run home run off of Kentucky weekend starter Alex Meyer.  He then posted two-hit efforts against both Morehead State and Purdue in the Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic in Evansville over the weekend.

On the season, Copeland currently sports a .313 batting average for the Purple Aces, having knocked a team-best eight doubles to go along with two home runs and 14 RBI.  In the classroom, Copeland is one of UE’s best, as he currently owns a 3.71 cumulative grade-point average in marketing at Evansville.

To qualify for Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors, student-athletes must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.  Copeland joins teammate Alex Acheson in earning Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors this year.  Acheson received the award on February 24 for his efforts in UE’s season-opening series at Belmont.

Copeland and the Purple Aces will return to the diamond this afternoon, as Evansville will travel to St. Louis, Missouri to take on the Saint Louis University Billikens in a non-conference contest.  First-pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.