Hibbs gains national honor after stellar outing

Senior ace Will Hibbs had a spectacular outing on the hill Friday night against league and border rival McNeese State, and for it he was named as one of the Louisville Slugger Pitchers of the Week announced the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Monday morning.

Hibbs (7-1) was dominant for the second-straight week with eight innings of work with the lone run coming on a home run in the eighth inning- which he opened at 115 pitches. He fanned 14 Cowboys in his eight-inning outing, and scattered five hits and walked one.

In his last 18 innings, the Friendswood native has only allowed one run.

“Will had a phenomenal game, and he was in control the whole way,” said head coach Jim Gilligan after the win Friday. “He pitched the eighth inning for me so we could take it easy on our bullpen. You can put that homer on my ERA.”

The right-hander really set the tone for the game early with eight-straight retired after he surrendered a leadoff single in the first inning. He led the Cardinals to their 26th win on the year and the lone victory they were able to gain over McNeese State.

He was one of six players (four pitchers) recognized, including Shane McCarthy (Seton Hall), Greg Kaiser (IPFW), Aaron Quillen (Belmont), L.J. Kalawai (UNC-Greensboro), Brooks Vial (Virginia Commonwealth), and Jordan Sheffeild (Vanderbilt). He is also the second Lamar player to take a national honor after Reid Russell did it for his five-game home run streak.

Hibbs will lead the Cardinals to a six-game road swing in Southland Conference action Friday when they take on Houston Baptist at 6:00 pm.