| Seth Whitehill won his first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Award after throwing seven shuting innings against Purdue on Saturday to pick up his fifth win of the year. |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; May 7, 2007 - Penn State junior pitcher Seth Whitehill was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Monday, the fifth time a Penn State pitcher has been named the conference??s Pitcher of the Week this year and the fourth different member of the Nittany Lion pitching staff to garner the award this year as well. Whitehill joins Craig Clark, who has two Big Ten Pitcher of the Week awards to his credit this year, and Scott Gaffney and Matt Ogrodnik, who have both won it once this year.
Whitehill earns his first career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award after pitching seven shutout innings on Saturday in the opener of the four-game series vs. Purdue. For the third time in his career and the second against Purdue, against whom he threw a three-hit shutout last year, Whitehill did not allow a run in a start as he allowed just four hits in his seven innings of work. He struck out a season-high seven, just one off his career high, and for the first time this year did not issue a walk. He allowed just six baserunners in his seven innings, one of which came on an error, and only one baserunner made it as far as third base.
With his effort, the Bellefonte, Pa. native picked up his team-leading fifth win of the year and his fourth win in his last five starts. The Nittany Lions have won each of his last five Big Ten starts. In Big Ten play, Whitehill has a 4-1 record with a 2.97 ERA and is holding opposing hitters to a .236 batting average.