Newport Beach, CA -- After his debut start of the season, Academy of Art University pitcher Nate Gercken found himself named as the first Hawaii Tourism Authority PacWest Pitcher of the Week. The awards are based on games played February 1-2.



Gercken, who is in his third year and coming off a year where he led the team in innings pitched and was second in ERA, got the start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against American Sports University. He didn't give up a baserunner until the fourth inning and didn't allow a hit until the top of the sixth, a two-out single that he quickly erased by striking out the next batter to end the inning.

The 6-6 redshirt junior finished the game with a program record-tying nine strikeouts through six one-hit innings, picking up the win as the Knights cruised to a 13-0 victory.