Ashley Dickerson
GoSycamores.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Missouri Valley Conference office has announced junior lefty, Ryan Keaffaber, as the MVC Pitcher of the Week. The Wabash, Ind., native improved to 4-2 behind two consecutive complete game starts, as he holds the only complete games for the Indiana State pitching staff so far this season. Keaffaber becomes the third Sycamore to earn this weekly honor, as junior Justin Hill and senior Daniel Peterson have earned the honors previously this season.
Keaffaber started Saturday's conference match-up with Southern Illinois coming off of a previous complete game win over Butler on April 2. The Sycamores dropped game one of MVC opening weekend, but behind Keaffaber, the Sycamores bounced back to earn a 3-0 shut-out over the Salukis on Saturday. The last time a Sycamore threw a complete game shutout was May 22, 2013 when Devin Moore tossed against Southern Illinois.
Keaffaber threw all nine innings, needing no help, as he gave up only three hits and walked just one Saluki batter. Only four Salukis reached base against Keaffaber, and only one would collect an extra base hit, as the southpaw retired three-in-a-row in five different innings. Out of the 107 pitches delivered, the junior hurler was perfect on 75. Keaffaber improved himself to a 2.66 ERA in 50.2 innings pitched, helping the Sycamore staff as a whole to notch the top ERA in the MVC with a 3.41.
The Sycamores improved to 22-12 overall and 2-1 in the MVC after this weekend's pitching efforts, earning them the second spot in MVC rankings behind Dallas Baptist. Indiana State also improved to nine games over .500 with the weekend series win over the Salukis.
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