April 18, 2011
DENVER, Colo. - Louisiana Tech southpaw Mike Jefferson has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. New Mexico State second baseman Tyler Forney claimed hitter of the week honors.
Jefferson, a junior from Cincinnati, Ohio (Clermont Northeastern HS), earned his fourth win of the year on Sunday against Hawai'i. Jefferson tossed 8.0 innings without giving up a run to earn a 3-0 victory against the `Bows. The 8.0 innings of work marked a season-long outing and was the second longest outing of Jefferson's career. Additionally, his six strikeouts against UH was one shy of his season high.
The redshirt junior has now been part of three-straight shutouts as a starting pitcher, including two straight shutouts against New Mexico State and Hawai'i. As a starter, Jefferson has not allowed a run in his last 19.1 innings of work while holding opponents to a .176 batting average during that stretch.
Jefferson is the fourth Bulldog pitcher to claim a player of the week honor this season, joining teammates Caleb Dudley and Ben Carlisle who were named WAC pitchers of the week and Jeb Stefan who claimed LSWA honors last week.
Louisiana Tech (18-17, 3-4 WAC) will look to split the series against Hawai'i tonight as the two teams meet in the series finale beginning at 11:30 p.m. CT. Making his first career start, freshman lefty Ben Carlisle will get the nod on the rubber for the Bulldogs.
