March 23, 2009
For the second-consecutive week, Missouri junior Kyle Gibson has been selected as the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Week. He is the first pitcher to claim back-to-back Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors since Texas' Kyle McCulloch in 2006.
Gibson picked up a complete game victory over Texas A&M last Friday night, as he struck out a career-high 16 batters in the Tigers' 3-2 win. He gave up just two runs on five hits to the Aggies and his only walk allowed on the night was an intentional pass in the eighth inning. Gibson retired the first 10 batters to the plate and 18 of the first 19 he faced.
Improving to 4-1 on the year, Gibson has 54 strikeouts in 39.0 innings pitched this season. He has struck out 40 in his last three starts. Gibson moved into the top-10 in career strikeouts at Missouri on Friday night. He has 227, which puts him in a tie for eighth place all-time.
This is Gibson's third career Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honor and second in as many weeks. Last week, Gibson recorded the first shutout of his career against Texas, striking out 11 and allowing just six hits in that game to earn the honor.
Mizzou (11-11, 3-3) will take on Illinois-Chicago in a pair of games this week at Taylor Stadium. The Tigers will travel to Stillwater, Okla. this weekend for a three-game series against Oklahoma State. Game one of that series is Friday at 6:30 with Gibson scheduled to start for the Tigers.
