Jake Fiorito becomes latest Pride hurler to earn Heart Pitcher of the Week

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - At the end of a 4-2 week for the Clarke University baseball team, senior pitcher Jake Fiorito earned the Heart of America Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, Heart officials announced on Monday.

Fiorito made two starts this past week in a pair of Pride wins against Mount Mercy University and Grand View University last Monday and Sunday respectively as CU took home 8-1 and 3-2 wins respectively.

The right-hander earned an individual victory against the Mustangs last Monday in a 5.2-inning appearance where he only allowed one unearned run on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters. 

In a no decision effort on Sunday against the Vikings, Fiorito went five strong innings where he allowed two earned runs on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

After returing to the mound this season following Tommy John Surgery, Fiorito's addition to the rotation has provided quality depth for CU as he currently sports a 2.84 ERA in seven starts with 31.2 innings pitched.

Fiorito becomes the third Clarke pitcher to earn the Pitcher of the Week honor after Isaac Rohde and Devan Quesada have both taken home the honor this season.

With Fiorito and Quesada earning Pitcher of the Week, that means half of the weekend starting rotation has been a weekly honoree in the Heart with Tyson Tucker and Johnny Blake competing that four-man squad have the top-four innings pitched numbers and all have an ERA under 4.60 as Tucker and Blake tout double digit K/9 numbers with Tucker leading the team in strikeouts and Blake setting a school record for strikeouts in a game earlier this season.

Clarke baseball will hope to play their first true home games of the season at A.J. Spiegel Park this week when they host Benedictine College this Thursday and Saturday for a four-game series consisting of two doubleheaders.