Stephen Strasburg was named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week after striking out 18 vs. 11th-ranked USD last Thursday.

March 9, 2009

SAN DIEGO - For the second consecutive week, San Diego State junior right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball magazine and has also been tabbed the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance in SDSU's contests against Nevada last Thursday. Strasburg also received recognition as one of 12 national pitchers of the week by recruitingcloser.com.

It was the fifth time that Strasburg has received national pitcher of the week from Collegiate Baseball the past two seasons and the 10th career MWC pitcher of the week award as an Aztec.

Strasburg, a San Diego, Calif. (West Hills HS), native, struck out 18 batters in eight innings on the mound in San Diego State's 5-3 win over the University of San Diego. The 18 K's are the second-highest in a single game in MWC history. After giving up the two runs in the third inning, Strasburg retired the next 11 batters in row including nine via the strikeout. He struck out the side in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He allowed just two runners from the fourth through eighth innings, one on an infield single and the other on a wild pitch on a third strike.

The win was his third of the season and to go along with a 1.77 earned run averages. Through his first three starts of the 2009 campaign, he has struck out 45 batters over 20.1 innings. His next schedule appearance is Friday (March 13) against UNLV at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Up next for San Diego State is a contest against UCLA on Wednesday, March 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Bruins' Jackie Robinson Stadium.