May 4, 2009

Missouri sophomore Brad Buehler has been named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. Buehler appeared in all four of the Tigers' games last week and did not allow a run in five innings pitched, while picking up two saves.

Buehler pitched the final 1.1 innings against Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, striking out one and recording his fourth save of the year.

The Festus, Mo. hurler threw a scoreless ninth inning on Friday in the series opener against Nebraska with one strikeout. Buehler then pitched the Tigers out of two holes on Saturday against NU. The Huskers loaded the bases with one out in the eighth and scored once before Buehler came out of the bullpen to force two pop outs. Then, after Nebraska got two singles to start the ninth, Buehler got a ground out and two strikeouts to close the game, earning his fifth save of the year.

On Sunday, the Huskers loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, when Buehler came on in relief to limit the damage, including getting a strikeout for the final out of the game.

This award marks fourth time a Tiger has earned a weekly honor from the Big 12 this year. Junior Kyle Gibson has twice been named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week (March 16 and March 23) and junior Greg Folgia earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors on April 20.

On the season, Buehler has made 27 appearances and leads the team with a 2.22 ERA and an opponent's batting average of .207.