University of North Carolina Athletics
Gallen Named National Pitcher Of The Week
April 12, 2016 | Baseball
Davis led all Big 12 players with 11 RBI last week as he helped lead the Red Raiders to a 4-1 road trip that included a midweek split at No. 5 Florida State and then a series sweep at No. 16 Oklahoma State. The three wins over the Cowboys marked Texas Tech's first sweep against a ranked opponent since the 2002 season. The Red Raiders are now 11-1 in Big 12 play, marking their best start to league action in school history.
The Lubbock, Texas native hit .400 for the week (8-for-20) as he recorded four runs scored, four doubles and a team-leading 11 RBI. He capped the week with a seven RBI performance Sunday that marked the most runs driven in by a Red Raider since Chris Richburg had seven on May 1, 2007, at Dallas Baptist. It also marked the most RBI for a Red Raider in a Big 12 contest since Gera Alvarez also had seven RBI on May 19, 2002, against Baylor. Davis cleared the bases twice in the win, as he had a three-run double in the third inning and then another in the sixth. He opened the week going 2-for-5 with two RBI, both off doubles, in Texas Tech's 8-4 victory at No. 5 Florida State. Davis closed the week with three multi-hit games, two of which that came in the Oklahoma State series, as well as a pair of multi-RBI games.
Gallen struck out a career-high 13 batters and faced just three more than the minimum in a four-hit complete-game shutout win over Virginia Tech on Friday. His 13 strikeouts were the most by a Tar Heel pitcher since Matt Harvey struck out 15 at Clemson in 2010. The Gibbsboro, New Jersey native allowed just one batter past first base on the night and threw 80 of his 118 pitches for strikes.
The win was his first complete game of the year and his second career complete-game shutout. He lowered his ERA to 1.93 for the season and now has 66 strikeouts to just 10 walks on the year.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com. For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Assistant Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
2016 WINNERS:
Hitter of the Week – Feb. 23 – Jeren Kendall, Jr., OF, Vanderbilt; March 1 – Brandon Gutzler, OF, Murray State; March 8 – Darik Hall, INF, Dallas Baptist.; March 15 – Joe Cronin, INF, Boston College; March 23 – John Jones, C, South Carolina; March 30 – Tyler Chadwick, Sr., 1B, Coastal Carolina; April 5 – Tanner Kirwer, So., OF, Niagara; April 12 – Michael Davis, So., 2B, Texas Tech.
Pitcher of the Week – Feb. 23 – Zach Muckenhirn, Jr., LHP, North Dakota; March 1 – Logan Shore, Jr., RHP, Florida; March 8 – Lucas Hempal, Sr., RHP, Texas State; March 15 – Jesse Scholtens, Sr., RHP, Wright State; March 23 – Seth Romero, So., LHP, Houston; March 30 – Ryan Hingst, So., RHP, Arizona State; April 5 – Andrew Wantz, So., RHP, UNC Greensboro; April 12 – Zac Gallen, Jr., RHP, North Carolina.
