Riverhawk Freshman Named MIAA Pitcher Of The Week

Northeastern State's Ryan Helsley was named the MIAA AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced Tuesday.

The true freshman Tahlequah native finished three outs shy of a no-hitter in the second game of the Lincoln series this past weekend. He threw 6.0 innings and did not give up an earned run, while improving to 2-2 on the season.

He struck out six and did not concede a hit until the first batter of the seventh inning. The hit was a bloop single that narrowly missed being caught by the right fielder. He threw 77 pitches and faced 25 batters, while administering seven fly outs and five ground outs.

This is the second time this season an NSU player has been honored, as senior outfielder Cody Robinson was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week on Feb. 18. This also marks the second time a RiverHawk has won the weekly pitcher accolade, as former NSU great Trevor Walch won the award on April 3, 2013.

Northeastern State is set to take on Arkansas-Fort Smith at 1 p.m. this afternoon in Fort Smith, Ark.