Monday, May 23, 2011

Valparaiso University’s Jon Gulbransen (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran H.S.) has been named the Horizon League’s Pitcher of the Week as the conference wrapped up its regular season last week.

The senior left-hander went five solid innings to earn the win on Friday afternoon in the regular season finale.  Gulbransen surrendered just four hits and walked two while striking out one.  He picked up his sixth victory of the season, and 18th for his career, moving him into a tie for fourth place on Valpo’s career wins list.

Gulbransen also became Valpo’s career inning’s pitched leader with 319.1 over his four-year stint with the Brown and Gold.  Gulbransen currently ranks third all-time in school history with 260 career strikeouts.

On the season Gulbransen is 6-7 with a 3.98 ERA.  He ranks third in the Horizon League with 76 strikeouts and is sixth in the conference having thrown 83.2 innings on the mound.

Valparaiso (22-30, 14-10 Horizon) finished in fourth place in the Horizon League during the regular season and will begin tournament action on Wednesday afternoon against fifth-seeded Butler.  First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. from Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.