Wednesday, April 4, 2012

ECU's Joyner named Conference USA Pitcher-of the-Week

IRVING, Texas - East Carolina junior Tyler Joyner was named Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Week after tossing his first career complete game against UAB. Joyner becomes the second Pirate to earn the weekly honors following Drew Reynolds Hitter-of-the-Week accolades back on March 12.

Joyner, a 2009 Northern Nash High graduate, picked up his fourth win of the season against UAB on Saturday, tossing his first career complete game. The southpaw scattered four hits in the contest, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out a career-best eight batters. He faced just four over the minimum on 101 pitches, inducing seven fly outs, 11 ground outs and all four Blazer hits were singles. Joyner retired the side in order in seven of nine frames, facing four batters in the fourth and five in the sixth.

On the season, the Rocky Mount native has allowed 14 runs (13 earned) on 36 hits with 33 strikeouts to just eight walks in 44.0 innings. In six of his seven starts, Joyner has registered four quality starts (6.0-plus IP, 3 or less runs), which is tied with classmate Jharel Cotton for second on the team behind Kevin Brandt's team-leading five. He is holding opposing hitters to a .224 composite batting average.