The Urban Knights swept Holy Names in a home doubleheader on Saturday, winning the first game behind a brilliant performance from redshirt junior Nate Gercken. Gercken tossed his first career shutout, going nine scoreless innings and only allowing six hits and striking out four batters. His outing earned him PacWest Pitcher of the Week, the second time he earned the honor this year, notching the award after the first week of the season.
Gercken has posted an ERA of 2.70 this year, striking out 40 batters in 60 innings and only allowing 54 hits. The mark would hold up to be the lowest single-season in program history by a starter, as he also is creeping up the leaderboards in career strikeouts, only 23 behind all-time leader Zach Mexicano.
