By: Andy Thurston, Augustana Athletics Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas – For the first time in his career, Carter Heinsch has been named the National Player of the Week, announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Thursday afternoon. He earned the award for the week ending on March 22, 2026, and becomes the seventh Viking to earn an NCBWA weekly honor. 

Heinsch was locked in against St. Cloud State last weekend, going 10 for 11 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, 11 RBI and seven runs scored in a three-game sweep over the Huskies. He slashed .909/.867/1.636 for an OPS of 2.503

The sophomore from Moorhead, Minnesota, tallied multiple hits in all three games. He opened the series going 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored and followed that with a triple, home run, four RBI and three runs scored in game two. On Saturday, he finished the series with another four-hit game, reaching base all six times he stepped to the plate while driving in four runs

Entering play this week, Heinsch has tallied a .440 batting average on the season, the best in the NSIC and 34th in the country. He is 21st in the country with a .559 on base percentage and his .833 slugging percentage is good for 19th.