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Picther Alex Klonowski earns weekly MAC honor

April 7, 2014
Alex Klonowski

Alex Klonowski

Senior Alex Klonowski was named the Mid-American Conference’s West Division Pitcher of the Week Monday after tossing a one-hit, complete game shutout while striking out nine batters Sunday versus Toledo.

It is the first career pitcher of the week honor for Klonowski.

The Kearney, Mo., native was dominant for the Huskies at Ralph McKinzie Field as he did not allow a hit in the final eight innings of the contest and only allowed four base runners on the day, none of which advanced past first base. Only Rocket Tyler Grogg recorded a hit in the game, doing so in the second at-bat of the game.

While Klonowski struck out a career-high nine batters, he also fanned five consecutive batters in the game and in the eighth inning, he struck out all four batters that stepped up to the plate as Jacob Britt reached base on a fastball that bounced off of home plate and out of play behind the backstop.

Helping his cause on the mound was his play at the plate as he was 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a walk to his credit as NIU’s No. 6 hitter.

The one-hitter was the first at Northern Illinois University since April 1, 1997, when former Huskie and Academic All-American Paul Erschen (1994-97) defeated Valparaiso, 5-0, after his seven inning victory over the Crusaders.

NIU will host a pair of midweek games at The Ralph this week as it welcomes Illinois State, Tuesday, April 8, and UW-Milwaukee Wednesday, April 9. Both games are slated for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

For more information on NIU baseball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.