LA Tech’s Matt Miller recognized as Conference USA Pitcher of the Week

IRVING, Texas – After leading Louisiana Tech in Friday’s 4-2 victory over No. 9 Texas A&M, pitcher Matt Miller was recognized as the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday.

Miller was nothing short of brilliant in earning his first win in his third start in a Tech uniform. He stymied the previously undefeated No. 9 Texas A&M offense, who entered Friday’s contest averaging 8.67 runs per game.

“Matt was unbelievable,” head coach Lane Burroughs said. “Matt is a competitor. He’s a Friday night guy because he competes his tail off. He dominated the strike zone against A&M. He had great fastball command. His secondary stuff was tremendous as well. That was one of the best offensive clubs we’ve played all year and to see what he did to them was impressive. He’s a competitor from way back, and I’m proud of him.”

The junior transfer won the battle against Texas A&M’s Friday night starter Stephen Kolek, as Miller tossed seven innings, giving up just one unearned run, while holding one of the nation’s most potent offenses to just five hits.

Miller did not issue a walk in the game, while striking out six and made the most of his 99 pitches. Texas A&M came into the game with a team batting average of .356, but in Tech’s 15th win over a ranked team since the start of 2016 (15-9), Miller controlled the count early and often, and kept the Aggie hitters off balance, scattering just five hits in seven innings.

Miller lowered his season ERA to 0.50, and has now tossed a team high 18 innings, striking out 24 while walking just three. For his performance, Miller was the only pitcher among the Frisco Classic participating teams to earn All-Tournament accolades.

The Aurora, Illinois, native now ranks among the top-10 conference leaders in ERA (0.50, third), opposing batting average (.154, sixth), innings pitched (18.0, seventh), strikeouts (24, fifth), and earned runs allowed (1, tied for second).

Miller paces an impressive LA Tech pitching staff that has the second lowest ERA (2.41) and the second most strikeouts (117) in Conference USA.

This is Miller’s first career weekly award, and the first for the Louisiana Tech baseball program since Raphael Gladu won Player of the Week last May.