Torres Named NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week

DALLAS --- Tusculum College left-hander Placido Torres has been named the NCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Week by the National Baseball Writers Association.  He earns his inaugural national pitcher of the week honor.  The award marks the second-straight week a student-athlete from the South Atlantic Conference has earned the honor.

Torres, a senior from North Brunswick, New Jersey, recorded one of the best pitching performances in school history as he posted 15 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout in Tusculum's 1-0 SAC win over Wingate last Friday.  For Torres, it was his second one-hitter of the season.

In the game, Torres became Tusculum's all-time leader in strikeouts (225), while also establishing a new single-season record with 115 strikeouts this season, which are already the seventh-most in South Atlantic Conference history.  He also established TC records with his third shutout of the season and fourth of his career.

Torres' 15 strikeouts are the fourth most ever by a Pioneer in a single-game and he has recorded 12 or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight outings.

Torres has lowered his earned run average to 0.51 which is the best in NCAA II, while his 115 strikeouts are most of any pitcher in the country (all NCAA divisions).

For his efforts, Torres was also named the NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week, Tennessee Sports Writers College Pitcher of the Week and SAC Pitcher of the Week.  He has been tabbed the NCBWA Region Pitcher of the Week four times, while also garnering SAC Pitcher of the Week honors on six occasions this season.

Tusculum (26-10, 9-6 SAC) will be on the road this weekend for a three-game South Atlantic Conference series at Newberry College beginning with Friday's 6 p.m. contest.

NCBWA National Players of the Week (SAC only)
Mar. 31 - Chance Bownden, Catawba (Hitter) 
Apr. 7 - Placido Torres, Tusculum (Pitcher)