Valparaiso freshman pitcher Taylor Weissenhofer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week after closing out the regular season by allowing just one run in 26.2 innings of work.

Weissenhofer opened the week with a stellar pair of performances at Western Michigan, starting with a four-out save in the opener of the doubleheader. The rookie then threw a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win in the nightcap, striking out 10 batters. In the third inning of that victory, Weissenhofer surpassed the Crusaders' previous single-season strikeouts record.

Weissenhofer's final non-league appearance of the regular season came in relief Wednesday at IUPUI, as she threw 2.2 innings of one-hit ball in relief, earning the win in a 5-4 victory in extra innings by the Crusaders.

Weissenhofer took the ball in the weekend series opener in a key three-game set with Youngstown State, going the distance for a four-hit shutout, striking out 11 as the Crusaders took the opener, 3-0. The freshman then entered in relief in a high-leverage situation in game two, coming on with two in scoring position and only one out in the sixth inning of a tie game.

Weissenhofer escaped that jam and went on to throw 8.2 innings, surrendering a 12th-inning home run which snapped her streak of 24.2 straight scoreless innings. But she rebounded, retiring the final nine batters she faced in order and eventually earning the victory in the marathon win for Valpo.

On the week, Weissenhofer went 4-0 with a save, posting a 0.26 ERA by allowing just the one run in 26.2 innings in the circle. She struck out 34 batters and walked just six while allowing opponents to hit a miniscule .163 against her.

The honor is the second of the season for Weissenhofer, who also was named league Pitcher of the Week on March 5. She joins fellow freshman Sierra Pico (North Las Vegas, Nev./Legacy) as two-time award winners this year, while four different Valpo hitters won Player of the Week accolades over the course of the season as well.