Barnes tabbed as NSAA Pitcher of the Week

MADISON, S.D. -- For the second time in three weeks, Bellevue University junior Colten Barnes (University Place, Wash.) has been named the North Star Athletic Association's Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the conference.

Barnes was nearly untouchable in his outing this week as he fired a complete game, four-hit shutout in game two of the Bruins' weekend series against Jamestown. The southpaw racked up seven punch outs in his seven innings on the hill and didn't issue a walk to a Jamestown offense that averages drawing 3.39 free passes per game.

The shutout was his second of the year for Barnes. It was his fifth-straight start allowing one or fewer runs and four or fewer hits. During that five game stretch he is 5-0 with a 0.55 ERA to go along with a WHIP of just 0.667, and a 37:5 strikeout to walk ratio.

Barnes was previously awarded NSAA Pitcher of the Week honors back on Apr. 3. For the season he is now 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA and has struck out 48 batters against just 11 walks in 57.2 innings of work.

As a team Bellevue has won 30 of their last 31 games. The Bruins now sit at 37-7 overall on the year and 15-1, a game ahead of Mayville State, in the North Star. BU returns home this weekend as they host Viterbo for a four-game set. Saturday's action begins at 1 p.m. and Sunday's first pitch is slated for noon with Senior Day ceremonies to take place between games on Sunday.