April 8, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - La Salle University freshman pitcher Kevin Fuqua has been named the Philadelphia Big 5 Pitcher of the Week in voting conducted by the school's head coaches and sports information offices.

Fuqua was two outs away from his second complete-game shutout of the season before allowing a single run in the Explorers' 8-1 victory at Saint Louis, Sunday. He struck out eight batters in the contest as he won his third game of the year.

He earns his second Big 5 Pitcher of the Week honor with the performance, and becomes the first Big 5 player or pitcher to earn a second honor in 2008.

Fuqua leads the Explorers in wins (3), complete games (3), strikeouts (47), innings pitched (51.0), and is tied in games started (8). He leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in complete games, tied for first in shutouts, tied for second in games started, and is second in strikeouts and innings.

Villanova junior Joe Cotter took the Player of the Week honor after batting .563 with seven RBI, seven runs scored, and a 1.063 slugging percentage.

Formed with the mission of increasing the exposure of college baseball in the area, Philadelphia Big 5 Baseball is comprised of the five Division I universities in the city that sponsor baseball. The Big 5 will announce a Player and Pitcher of the Week every Tuesday during the season and the third All-Big 5 baseball team will be announced at the conclusion of the season.