The Ohio Valley Conference named Eastern senior relief pitcher Nathan Stone Pitcher of the Week.

Stone was awarded the honor this week after he earned two wins for Eastern (4-9) in the Kennel Club Classic in Jacksonville, Fla., during spring break.

Stone made honorable mention all-conference honors last year, but this is his first year to recieve a weekly award.

Stone closed against Central Michigan and earned his first save of the season. In the third game against Jacksonville he came in during the ninth inning and got his second save of the year for Eastern. He held Jacksonville to a shutout in the one inning he pitched.

In the final game in the Classic against Creighton, Stone pitched 3 2/3 innings to get a another win for Eastern. He equaled his career-high of 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Stone only allowed two hits and had three strikeouts.

Stone earned his fifth career save in his 67th career appearance last week. He has had a role in all four of Eastern’s wins this season.

Head coach Jim Schmitz said last year Eastern really struggled with having only one guy to end the game with. This year they feel really good about having Stone.

“I think it just says a lot about him, and that part of the rotation is very important in the play, it is nice to give the ball to Stone late in the game,” Schmitz said.

Schmitz said they are really excited to have him on the team.

Stone realizes the pressure on him when he closes a game but said that is what pushes him to be better.

“Being a closer there is a lot of pressure in that position, but it is a spot that needs to be filled and my whole team is counting on me at that point,” Stone said. “That is my drive for success, in not letting my team down.”