Hilltoppers' Welsh Named WVIAC Pitcher of the Week
PRINCETON, W.Va. – West Liberty University mound ace Jeff Welsh picked up the first West Virginia Conference Pitcher of the Week Award of his career on Monday.
Welsh, a 5-10 senior righthander from Brunswick, Ohio, shared Pitcher of the Week honors with Pitt-Johnstown’s Alex Naggy. Nick Sydnor of Concord was named WVIAC Player of the Week.
The Hilltopper standout was honored after turning in a masterful performance in West Liberty’s 3-2 upset of regionally-ranked Seton Hill Saturday afternoon in Greensburg, Pa.
After the league-leading Griffins had scratched out single runs in each of the first two innings, Welsh shut them out the rest of the way. Seton Hill managed just two singles over the final five frames as West Liberty handed the hosts only their second WVIAC loss of the season.
Welsh walked just one batter and finished the day with eight strikeouts as he improved to 4-5 on the season with his sixth complete-game effort.
This is the second time in less than a month that a member of Bo McConnaughy’s Hilltopper baseball team has collected a weekly award from the WVIAC. Senior centerfielder Trent Chapman was selected as the WVIAC Player of the Week for the week ending on April 4.
West Liberty returns to action on Tuesday when the Hilltoppers travel to Athens, W.Va. for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Concord.
