Barnett Named Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week
April 29, 2013 | Baseball
Barnett (High Point, N.C. / High Point Christian) was one of four players named by the publication, joining LHP Matt Florer (Loyola Marymount), LHP Jason Inghram (William & Mary) and OF Tom Healy (Mount St. Mary's).
Barnett's recognition came after he hurled 8.0 sharp innings in a 5-1 win over UNC Asheville on Saturday, fanning a career-high 14 without issuing a walk.
The 6-0, 185-pound righty finished only two shy of the school's single-game record for strikeouts, which was set by Eric Boyd at Newberry on April 26, 2001. Barnett's total is the most by a Gardner-Webb pitcher against a Division I foe in a single game.
Barnett struck out the side in both the first and sixth, and fanned at least one batter in each of his eight innings worked. Saturday marked the second consecutive start that Barnett has lasted at least 8.0 innings and the third time this season.
Barnett improved to 3-2 on the season with the win, and sports a 3.06 ERA in 11 starts this season. He has fanned 68 batters in 67.2 innings of work (12 walks) and has not issued a walk in his last four starts (33 strikeouts).
The junior ranks third in the Big South Conference in strikeouts and second in strikeouts per nine innings (9.04).
The Runnin' Bulldogs (22-21-1) return to action at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field on Tuesday, hosting Conference USA foe East Carolina at 5:00 PM in a non-conference affair.
Tuesday's game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) and the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com).
