ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Illinois State fourth-year junior Derek Salata has been named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday, after throwing a no-hitter through six innings against 19th-ranked Purdue in the 'Birds' extra-inning win in their home opener on Thursday.
The Westchester, Ill. native required just 84 pitches to get through seven innings as he allowed just one hit, two walks, and an unearned run. Salata added five strikeouts.
The Redbirds have already surpassed their total MVC weekly awards received in 2021 as fifth-year juniors Jake McCaw and Jared Hart each received MVC weekly honors. McCaw was First-Team All-MVC in 2021 but had not previously won an MVC weekly award.
Illinois State is scheduled to host UIC on Wednesday before hosting Saint Louis for a weekend series.
QUOTES (following Thursday's game)
Fourth-year head coach Steve Holm: "He had the thing you're not supposed to talk about for the first couple innings and then goes to five, six innings. He was fantastic. He was pitching on one day short rest. It was pretty good for Derek to match Purdue's Friday night guy pitch-for-pitch. He really gave us a great chance to win."
Salata: "It was an electric atmosphere ... the guys behind me made big plays - Cheng up the middle, Soberano turning two, and Darr out in right field. I think the outing was pretty good overall."
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