Ball State University Athletics
Kyle Heyne Named MAC West Pitcher Of The Week
March 19, 2007 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State junior closer Kyle Heyne has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office.
Heyne pitched 3.2 innings in relief last week, allowing just two hits and no runs, while striking out four batters. He earned a win and a save for Ball State.
Heyne picked up his first win of the season Tuesday in the Cardinals' 7-6 victory at Wake Forest. He pitched the final 1.1 innings and shut the Demon Deacons down in the bottom of the ninth after Ball State had taken the lead in the top of the inning.
In Wednesday's game at Wake Forest, Heyne threw the final 1.1 innings again, this time picking up the save in a 6-5 Ball State win. The save was the fourth of the season for the junior right-hander.
Heyne made his final appearance of the week Sunday in Ball State's 11-7 win over Bowling Green. Though it was not a save situation, Heyne entered the game in the ninth inning and retired the Falcons in order to close out the game.
After ranking second in the MAC in 2006 with 12 saves, Heyne was named to the 2007 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List. His four saves this season give him 18 for his career, tying him for second place on Ball State's all-time list with Matt Speicher (1996-99). He is six shy of the career record, which is owned by Ron Schrock (1983-85) with 24.
The Pitcher of the Week award is the second for Heyne, who also earned the honor Feb. 20, 2006. It is the first individual award for a Ball State player this year.
Ball State has won seven of its past 10 games to improve to 8-10 on the season. The Cardinals play at Louisville Tuesday at 1 p.m. before returning to Muncie to open the MAC portion of their schedule Friday at 3 p.m. versus Akron.
