May 17, 2005

Missouri sophomore right-hander Max Scherzer has been named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. It is the second time this season that Scherzer has received the award.

Last Friday, Scherzer pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 10, as MU defeated Kansas 8-0. Scherzer improved to 8-2 on the season with the win and leads the Big 12 Conference in ERA (1.22), strikeouts (117) and opponents' batting average (.138). His ERA is fifth best in the nation and his is sixth in strikeouts nationally.

He was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association National Pitcher of the Week, along with a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week on April 4, following a combined no-hitter against Texas Tech, when he struck out a career-high 14.

Scherzer has been invited to the 2005 USA Baseball National Team Trials in June. He has also been named to the watch list for the Xanthus Dick Howser Award, the Golden Spikes Award, the Clemons Award and the Wallace Award.

Mizzou opens the final week of the regular season with back-to-back games in O'Fallon, Mo. On Tuesday, MU will face Southern Illinois before taking on Illinois on Wednesday. Both games start at 6:30 p.m. and will be played at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.