Marshall University Athletics
Joshua Shapiro Named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week
4/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Full release
IRVING, Texas - Marshall freshman Joshua Shapiro has been named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week after he earned his first collegiate victory on Sunday.
Shapiro limited over 16th-ranked Florida Atlantic Owls with seven shutout innings, while striking out five in a 7-2 victory.
Shapiro became the first member of the Thundering Herd to win the weekly honor since Matt Margaritonda was selected March 10, 2014.
"The team is very proud of Joshua," coach Jeff Waggoner said. "He has worked extremely hard to be in this position. He's a guy that we have high expectations for in the future of this program. The best thing about Josh is not only is the talent there, but what's more exciting is his pitchability."
The Columbus, Ohio, native allowed four hits in his first Conference USA start against one of the league's top hitting teams, leading Marshall to its first win over a ranked opponent in three years (Houston, April 6, 2013). Shapiro lowered his ERA from 6.25 to 5.12 with the dominating performance.
The southpaw has a combined stat line of his last two starts of 12.2 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts and one earned run on four hits. Shapiro's last start prior to Sunday was against in-state rival West Virginia on April 5.
Shapiro (1-2) has thrown 38.2 innings with 28 strikeouts in 12 appearances, including six starts.
Marshall returns to action when it welcomes Eastern Kentucky to the Kennedy Center Field on Route 2 on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
