Sauser Tabbed Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the WeekSauser Tabbed Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week

Sauser Tabbed Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week

by James Warnick

IRVING, Texas – Behind a dominant eight-inning outing against No. 15 TCU on Saturday, UCF sophomore right-hander Matt Sauser has been named the Big 12 Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week as announce by the conference office on Monday.

Sauser was tabbed the Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week after going a career-long 8.0 innings while striking out a career-best eight batters en route to leading UCF to a 4-2 Saturday victory to earn the series win over the Horned Frogs. In his first weekend start as a Knight, the Florida State transfer allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out the eight batters and not issuing a walk. He faced the minimum in six of his eight innings of work, which included a stretch in which he retired 14 straight batters. Over 104 total pitches, Sauser threw 77 for strikes.

The 8.0-inning outing marked the longest of the season for UCF. With the win, he moved to a perfect 3-0 on the year and also holds a 1.82 ERA over 24.2 innings.

The conference weekly honor marked the first of Sauser’s career and the first for UCF on the season.

TCU’s Tommy LaPour also earned Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Week honors on Monday, while Arizona’s Mason White and BYU’s Ryder Robinson received Co-Player of the Week accolades and Kansas’ Jackson Hauge was named the conference's Newcomer of the Week.

Sauser and the Knights will hit the road to play at Florida Atlantic on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before hosting the first place and 14th-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers this weekend.