Bryan Young (photo/MSU Athletics)
Missouri State closer Bryan Young was been named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, after getting a victory and two saves in three hitless relief appearances to help the Bears extend their win streak to eight games after a series win over Dallas Baptist.
The sophomore from Staley High School/Kansas City, pitched the Bears out of trouble Tuesday, locking up MSU’s first win over Arkansas in nine years and the Bears’ first shutout of the Razorbacks since 1969. The right-hander fanned the first three batters he faced, stranding the tying run on second in the eighth before posting a 1-2-3 ninth in the 2-0 win.
Young also saved MSU’s game one win over DBU, setting down four straight Patriot hitters after entering with the tying and go-ahead runners on base. On Friday, working 1.2 innings, he allowed his first baserunner of the week on a fielding error before the Bears pulled out the 4-3 win in 10 innings. The MVC honor is the first of Young’s MSU career.
Thanks to its series win over DBU, Missouri State (20-8, 4-2 MVC) picked up some national recognition as well Monday. The Bears earned their first top 25 nod in two seasons, earning the No. 20 spot in D1Baseball.com’s poll, as well as the No. 24 position in Baseball America’s Collegiate Top 25 poll. Additionally, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named MSU as the No. 29 team in its poll, while the Bears received votes in both USA Today Coaches Poll and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) polls.
The Bears wrap up their four-game home stand with a 6:35 p.m. game against SEMO Tuesday (April 7) evening at Hammons Field.
Story courtesy, MissouriStateBears.com