Valparaiso University’s Kevin Wild (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer H.S.) picked up his third Horizon League Pitcher of the Week honor while the Crusaders’ pitching staff as a whole was named the National Pitching Staff of the Week by Insidepitching.com.

Wild threw a complete game shutout on Saturday in Valpo’s 1-0 victory over Butler in the opener of a doubleheader.  The senior right-hander scattered just four hits, none of which came after the fifth inning, and struck out five while walking just three batters.  It was his first collegiate shutout and second complete game of the season, lowering his ERA to 2.57, second in the conference.  He also is second in opponents’ batting average at .227.

Wild also earned the accolade on March 26 and April 9.

The Crusader pitching staff as a whole put together a tremendous week as they went 3-1 against a pair of in-state rivals.  Their week started with a 16-inning affair with Indiana State and finished with a three game sweep of Butler.

Indiana State entered the game as one of the nation’s top offensive teams in both runs scored and batting average but a collection of Valpo pitchers would have none of that.  While they ultimately lost the game 2-1 in those 16 innings, six Valpo pitchers held the Sycamores to just one earned run by scattering 12 hits, and striking out 10.

The weekend brought in conference foe and in state rival Butler.  Unlike Tuesday’s effort, the Crusaders would not need much help as starter Tyler Deetjen (Saint Charles, Ill./East H.S.) went the distance allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits allowing just one walk and striking out seven. 

Wild tossed the complete game shutout in game two before the Crusaders would complete the sweep behind the great effort of Kyle Wormington (Norman, Okla./North H.S.) and Sean Kennedy (Gurnee, Ill./Warren Township H.S.).  Wormington scattered six hits over his eight innings of work allowing two runs while walking just one and striking out seven.  He passed the ball to Kennedy who pitched a clean ninth inning to set up a last inning comeback for Valpo.

On the week, the Crusader pitching staff completed 43 innings of work this past week.  They allowed just 4 earned runs on 26 hits while striking out 29 opposing hitters.  This week’s effort allowed the Valpo staff to push their earned run average down to 3.58 on the season.