Victor Roache is comfortable with college life in small town Statesboro, Ga.

And the Lincoln High School graduate is even more comfortable in the batter's box at Georgia Southern University, where Roache leads the NCAA with 18 home runs through 37 games.

Roache, a sophomore outfielder, hit a home run in all five of the Eagles' games last week, going 9-for-16 (.563) at the plate with 13 RBIs, nine runs and a 1.563 slugging percentage.

The stellar week earned the Ypsilanti native Collegiate Baseball's national player of the week award. He was also named the Southern Conference player of the week for the second time this season.

Roache is not a home run hitter by training or disposition. In 43 games for Georgia Southern last year, he hit eight home runs -- which is the same number he can recall hitting for Lincoln.

In fact, Roache almost apologizes for the home runs, referring to them as “accidents” and implying they're simply an unintended byproduct of a solid swing.

On Saturday, Roache launched his 17th accident of the season in an 8-7 conference victory over Western Carolina. The next day, he finished the series with three hits, including his 18th home run, in a 16-13 win.

Roache, who opted to attend Georgia Southern after being selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 25th round of the 2009 draft, is hitting .326 with 50 RBI and a gaudy .762 slugging percentage.

A move from sixth to the cleanup spot in the Eagles' lineup has coincided with Roache's power surge, but he doesn’t think opposing pitchers have changed their approach against him.

“It hasn’t changed much, surprisingly,” Roache said. “A lot of pitchers in college try to beat you with the fastball and, with runners on, I’m probably seeing some more breaking balls.”

Roache said his added power comes from a combination of his college meal plan and the Georgia Southern coaching staff’s approach to strength training. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Roache has put on 15 pounds since leaving Ypsilanti and said the team is “getting worked out like we’re the football team.”

His goals for the remainder of the season all revolve around team play. He’d like to help the 22-15 Eagles reach 40 wins and win the Southern Conference regular season title. When pressed, he will only admit to wanting to finish the season with an above-.300 batting average.

After his college season, Roache will head to the famed Cape Cod League along with teammate Chris Beck to play for the Cotuit Kettleers.

They will be playing alongside some of the top college baseball prospects in the country. Some famous Kettleers alumns include major leaguers Chase Utley, Scott Spiezio, Tim Salmon, Dan Wilson and current Yankee manager Joe Girardi.

Playing in the highly competitive Cape Cod League will be a big step up from last summer, when Roache played for the Delaware (Ohio) Cows, in what Roache called the “relaxed” environment of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.

Roache played 13 games with the Cows -- with no home runs -- before his season was shortened by an Achilles' injury.

Per NCAA rules, Roache isn’t eligible for the MLB draft again until after his junior season.

Bob Gross covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at bobmgross@gmail.com.