Following in the footsteps of last week’s co-winner Mike Drowne and three-time honoree Jeff Hanson, Heppner becomes the third different Pioneer to win the Akadema NEC Player of the Week award. The junior backstop hit .500 (9-for-18) with eight RBI, six runs scored, and a .944 slugging percentage for surging Sacred Heart, which has won six of its last eight NEC contests. Helping to pull the Pioneers into third place in the NEC standings, Heppner victimized preseason conference favorite Monmouth for at least two hits and one RBI in each of the series’ four games. Heppner hit two-run homers in the series opener and finale against the Hawks, both wins for Sacred Heart. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI in the 10-4 game three victory on Saturday. Catching two games and playing the other two at first base, Heppner went 9-for-16 with six runs, and eight RBI against Monmouth.