2019 (Junior): Appeared and started in 16 games ... posted a 5-8 record with a 4.75 ERA spanning 77.2 innings of work ... struck out 79 batters during the 2019 campaign, the second-most on the team ... threw a complete game, striking out seven and allowing six runs, in Illinois State's regional victory over Louisville in the NCAA Tournament (6/1) ... in that regional victory, he did not allow a hit over the final three innings to pick up his fifth win of the season ... held opponents to one or no earned runs on six occasions ... struck out a career high 10 batters at Valparaiso (4/6).
2018 (Sophomore): Appeared in 15 games, with 13 starts … started the year 4-0 finishing with a team best in wins with 5-2 record and 5.49 ERA … struck out 57 and walked 41 batters over 62.1 innings on the mound … was tied for second among Redbird pitchers in games started and strikeouts … ranked third on the team in innings pitched … did not allow an earned run in three starts against Dallas Baptist (4/8), Butler (4/29) and Valparaiso (5/13) … went six innings, five hits, one run, striking out five and walking two at Indiana State (4/15) … struck out a season-high eight batters at Washington (3/12) … had 11 games with at least three strikeouts.
2017 (Freshman): Appeared in 19 games, with eight starts … posted a 2-3 record and 6.46 ERA … struck out 40 and walked 30 batters over 46 innings on the mound … named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week (5/22) … was tied for second among Redbird pitchers in games started … ranked third on the team in strikeouts and fourth in innings pitched … made collegiate debut in relief with a scoreless inning of work and his first strikeout versus Indiana State (2/17) … made three-straight scoreless outings to start the season … picked up a save with two scoreless innings of relief work at Western Kentucky (3/12) … made first career start at Lipscomb (3/18) … struck out a career-high six batters at Dallas Baptist (3/31) … earned first collegiate win against Missouri State (5/19), handing the Bears their only Missouri Valley Conference regular-season loss … pitched five innings and matched a career high with six strikeouts against Wichita State (5/25) to pick up another win in the MVC Tournament … allowed four unearned runs in an inning of relief work in the MVC Tournament’s title game against Dallas Baptist (5/28) … named to the MVC and AFNI honor rolls.
Morris HS: Three-year member of the baseball team … earned all-area honors for three-straight seasons … garnered all-conference honors as a senior … compiled a 6-6 record with three saves, a 1.71 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 85.2 innings as a senior … also hit .255 with 19 RBIs in final prep season … struck out 17 batters in one game as a senior … named team’s MVP and earned team pitching award as a senior … also named school’s senior athlete of the year … tallied a 3.60 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 72 innings as a junior … pitched a complete-game shutout in regional title game as a sophomore … also played basketball for two seasons … named to the honor roll all four years.
Personal: Born June 15, 1998 in Morris, Illinois … son of Dave and Dina Walker … has one older brother, Drew … brother played baseball at Rockford University … majoring in business administration.
