Northwestern University Athletics
J.A. Happ Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
4/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's No. 1 pitcher J.A. Happ (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy) earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors for his start vs. Indiana last Friday afternoon. This is Happ's second conference honor of the season, and fifth of his career.
Happ dominated Indiana in Northwestern's 2-0 Big Ten opener Friday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park. The junior pitched his first collegiate complete-game shutout, facing just two batters over the minimum in a nine-inning contest (29). He did not allow a Hoosier runner to reach second base the entire game, striking out a season-high 12. Happ's career high in strikeouts is 17, a feat he accomplished in a seven-inning game vs. Iowa last season.
Happ, who got 10 ground-ball outs in the game, lowered his ERA to a minute 1.99 in 45.1 innings pitched. He has struck out 56 batters this season, 12 of them looking. In his seven starts, Happ is averaging 8.0 strikeouts in just under seven innings per outing.
With his nine-inning masterpiece, Happ moved up to number six on the career earned run list. In 179.2 career innings pitched, he boasts a 2.76 ERA, moving ahead of Grady Hall (2.77, 1983-86). His 12 strikeouts also put him over 200 for his career with 201, just 23 behind Jim Garbeff (225) for the No. 5 spot on the career strikeout list. Zach Schara (1999-2002) is NU's all-time strikeout leader with 289.
NU is next in action when they host Valparaiso this Tuesday at 3 p.m. (CDT). Valpo is 4-16 on the season.
