Long Beach State University Athletics
Gagnon in the national, conference spotlight
3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2011
Long Beach, Calif. - Junior Andrew Gagnon earned a number of accolades for his performance against Arizona last Friday, earning both Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week and being selected as the Golden Spikes Spotlight Player of the Week, highlighting the efforts of a player in the hunt for the Golden Spikes award, given to the top college baseball player in the nation each season.
Gagnon answered the bell for Long Beach State in a home game against No. 16 Arizona last weekend. The junior pitcher shut down the Arizona bats, holding the Wildcats scoreless over 7.2 innings while striking out seven, scattering four hits, and issuing no walks to one of the nation's more potent lineups.
In the process, Gagnon also out-dueled another top pitcher in Arizona's Kurt Heyer. Gagnon was then featured in USA Baseball and Baseball America's combined project, the Golden Spikes Spotlight, which looks to improve both the visibility of the Golden Spikes award as well as the players vying for the honor like Gagnon.
The Dirtbags have had two Golden Spikes finalists, Jered Weaver and Evan Longoria, with Weaver winning the award following the 2004 season.
Also awarded to Gagnon this week was the Big West Pitcher of the Week award. It was the first conference weekly award given to a Long Beach State baseball player this season. It is also the first time that Gagnon has won the award during his three-year career at Long Beach State. Dirtbags teammate Branden Pinder won the award last season, the only other current Dirtbag to have won Big West Player or Pitcher of the week honors.
