Sophomore Nate Palace (Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian) was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday. 

Palace recorded a week for the ages, driving in 17 runs in one of Valpo's most offensively potent six-day spans in school history. The first baseman had a record-setting series at Western Carolina, as he enjoyed a 5-for-8 two-game set that included eight runs scored, six runs batted in, a pair of doubles and a home run. His six runs scored in the March 3rd game in Cullowhee set a single-game record.

He saved his best performance for the USC Upstate series. On Saturday, Palace clubbed a pair of home runs along with a double as part of a seven-RBI effort in Valpo's 17-5 win over the Spartans. In Sunday's 17-13 slugfest, he went yard again with a sixth-inning, three-run blast.

Palace is currently leading the Crusaders in hits (17), home runs (4), runs batted in (19), and slugging percentage (.771). 

Valpo will conclude its spring trip Tuesday afternoon in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Crusaders and James Madison (7-4) will meet in a 4:00 pm ET/3:00 pm CT first pitch.