Ryan reels in GPAC pitcher of the week laurels
SEWARD, Neb. – A tremendous start to his collegiate career has allowed Concordia freshman Neil Ryan to earn GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the league on Tuesday. Ryan is the first member of the Bulldog baseball program to receive a GPAC weekly award since outfielder Taylor Dudley on March 18, 2014.
In last week’s only outing, Ryan fired his second shutout of the season. The right-hander from Grand Junction, Colo., limited Dordt (.332 team batting average) to just three hits. Ryan struck out a career high nine hitters and walked three.
The 6-foot-2 rookie has not allowed more than a single earned run in any of the first five starts of his career. Ryan (4-0) leads the GPAC in ERA (0.83), opponent batting average (.183) and fewest hits allowed per game (5.79). He ranks second among conference hurlers in wins. He has recorded 28 punch outs in 32.2 innings of work. As a staff, Concordia ranks second in the GPAC in ERA (3.79).
Ryan and the Bulldogs (16-8) have already equaled last season’s win total. They were in action on Tuesday (March 31) in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Manhattan Christian College (Kan.).