NEW YORK – After posting a career-high nine strikeouts, graduate right-handed pitcher
Luke McCollough was named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced Monday (April 14). Second Baseman
Brayden Leonard was also named to the Weekly Honor Roll.
McCollough is the third Villanova pitcher to be named BIG EAST Pitcher of the week this season, joining
Alec Sachais (April 7) and
Bobby Olsen (March 17).
The San Diego, Calif., native threw seven innings of one-run ball on Friday, earning the win in Villanova's 13-1 victory over Butler. He threw a career-high nine strikeouts while only allowing one walk, improving to 4-1 on the season.
His nine Ks ties the season-high total for a Villanova pitcher this season, matching Olsen's total against NJIT (March 14). McCollough has been a workhorse on the mound this season, going five-or-more innings in six of eight starts.
Leonard went 8-for-14 on the weekend, scoring three runs and driving in five. On Sunday, the freshman went a perfect 5-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI in Villanova's 21-2 win over Butler. He became the first Villanova player to record five hits in a game since Ryan Toohers in 2018.
The true freshman now ranks in the top three among Wildcats in batting average (.333), hits (42), RBI (28), home runs (5) and total bases (61). He and
Michael Whooley are the only two 'Cats to have played and started in all 33 games thus far.
McCollough, Leonard, and the rest of the Wildcats will host Xavier in a three-game series from Thursday to Saturday (April 17-19) at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth. Friday's game will begin at 3:05 p.m. ET, and all three games will be streamed live on FloSports.
