Monday, April 18, 2011

Valparaiso University’s Justin Frane (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll H.S.) has been named the Horizon League’s Pitcher of the Week for his stellar outing on Friday against Youngstown State.

The Crusader right-hander went eight strong innings, allowing just one run and scattering five hits as Valpo posted an 11-1 victory over the Penguins.  Frane struck out four while walking just one to earn the victory, improving his record to 2-1 on the season.

For the season Frane has posted a 1.93 earned run average while throwing 46.2 innings.  Opponents are batting just .246 against the senior, an average that drops to .188 in Horizon League action.  Frane’s ERA in conference play is a miniscule 0.73 and he has struck out 22 batters in 24.2 innings of work.

Valpo (14-21, 9-3 Horizon) went on to sweep the three-game weekend series with Youngstown State and enters Monday’s game against Saint Francis (Ind.) with an eight-game winning streak overall.  The Crusaders have climbed into second place in the Horizon League standings, just percentage points behind Milwaukee for the top spot.