UTRGV junior pitcher J.C. Ariza was named the TicketSmarter WAC Pitcher of the Week for helping lead the Vaqueros to a 3-1 week from March 28-April 3.
Ariza, a right-hander from Belleville, N.J., opened the week with a career-high tying eight strikeouts in four innings of scoreless two-hit ball during an 8-7 win over Houston Baptist last Tuesday.
He followed that by pitching the final three innings of Sunday’s victory at Sam Houston to earn his first-career save.
In total, Ariza struck out 10 in seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks. Opponents hit .160 off him.
During eight appearances this season, Ariza (1-0) has struck out 21 batters and holds a 3.57 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 22.2 innings pitched.
Winners of five of their last six, UTRGV (16-11, 6-6) is back in action at 6:30 tonight at No. 6 Texas (21-9, 3-3) in a nonconference game televised on Longhorn Network.
