Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) sophomore Erik Van Meetren tied a national record and became just the seventh player in high school history to hit five home runs in a single game during a 27-0 victory over Clark (Nev.) today.
Eric Van Meetren homered in five straight at bats.
Bishop Gorman High School
The 6-foot-5 slugger had six home runs this season entering the game while boasting a .462 batting average. The Gaels, ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, have won 29 straight games.
According to the National Federation High School record book, Van Meetren tied the national record for five home runs in a single game shared by six other players, the last two coming in 2000 by Cory Peck (Sioux City North, Iowa) and Jesse Crosswhite (Fortuna, Calif.).
If Van Meetren hits a home run in his first at-bat of his next game, he will tie the national record for home runs in consecutive at-bats. Six hold the record of six in a row, last done by Stevan Louch of Claire, Mich., in 2001. Bishop Gorman's next scheduled game is against Bonanza (Nev.) at College of Southern Nevada on Monday.
Three of his homers were solo shots, while a pair were with one man on base. He finished with seven RBI. Van Meetren hit two home runs in the first inning, as did teammate Jeff Malm, whose 12 home runs lead the team.
Johnny Field also had a pair of homers for Bishop Gorman; Stephen Mantei added one.
No major leaguer has hit more than four home runs in a single game, a feat shared by several players, including Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, and Carlos Delgado. The collegiate record is held by Florida State’s Marshall McDougal, who six home runs against Maryland on May 9, 1999.
