IRVING, TEXAS (February 25, 2008) Baylor right-hander Kendal Volz was named Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Volz was honored after earning the victory in the Bears’ 2-1 victory over Purdue in Friday night’s season opener. Oklahoma State junior second baseman Tyrone Hambly earned player of the week honors.
This is the first time Volz, a sophomore from Bulverde, Texas, has been so honored. He is the 12th Baylor pitcher to earn the weekly honor in the league’s 12-year history, joining Kris Lambert, Jason Jennings (four times), Chad Hawkins, Kyle Evans (twice), Steven White (twice), Jared Theodorakos, Cory VanAllen (three times), Mark McCormick (four times), Abe Woody, Ryan LaMotta and Wade Mackey. Baylor has produced at least one Big 12 Pitcher of the Week each season in the league’s existence save 2003.
Volz held Purdue scoreless on four hits and two walks over 8.0 innings with 10 strikeouts. His strikeout total was the best by a Baylor pitcher in a season opener since 1989. It was the second double-digit strikeout performance of his career; Volz recorded 13 strikeouts against Oklahoma in last year’s Big 12 Conference Championship.
After a one-out walk in the first, Volz settled down and retired nine consecutive batters before allowing back-to-back singles in the fourth. He also allowed a two-out single in the fifth, and a one-out hit and walk in the sixth. Volz closed strong as he retired the final seven batters he faced with four strikeouts in that span, including three of the last four.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting Texas Southern for a 6:30 p.m. CST first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears send sophomore right-hander Wade Mackey (4-3, 3.18 ERA in 2007) to the mound for his first appearance of the season.
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