T.J. Walz Selected Big 12 Pitcher of the Week

April 6, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

Kansas sophomore T.J. Walz has been selected as the Big 12 Conference’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 6. This marks the second time a Kansas pitcher has earned the distinction this season.

Walz (pronounced: Walls), a sophomore righty from Omaha, Neb., pitched a complete game shutout against No. 7 Baylor on Saturday. He allowed no runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts in nine innings, marking the second complete game shutout by a Jayhawk this year. Walz’ shutout was also just the fifth by a Big 12 pitcher this season, and second against a conference opponent, joining Missouri’s Kyle Gibson, who shutout Texas on March 14.

Walz is tied for the team lead with three wins and no losses this season. He has a 3.00 ERA with 10 walks and 37 strikeouts in 39 innings. Opponents are batting just .221 against him.

The sophomore righty has seven collegiate wins in his career, with three of them coming against Top 10 teams (then-No. 9 Nebraska in 2008, No. 4 Arizona State in 2009, No. 7 Baylor in 2009).

Baylor’s Shaver Hansen was selected as the Big 12 Player of the Week.

Walz and the Jayhawks (18-12, 4-5 in Big 12) will take on Iowa in a two-game series in Iowa City beginning Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Both games from the series can be heard on KLWN (1320 AM) in Lawrence.