Valparaiso University baseball redshirt junior Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
 
Lockwood was recognized by the league office after helping the Beacons open conference play in the win column for the first time since 2016 as he picked up the win in Friday's 8-3 triumph at defending MVC regular-season champion Indiana State. The right-hander pitched Valpo to the program's first victory over the Sycamores since 2007, snapping a 25-game head-to-head losing streak.
 
Lockwood, the game's winning pitcher, threw 120 pitches over seven innings and did not allow an earned run as all three runs that crossed the plate against him were unearned. He racked up 10 strikeouts while scattering five hits and walking one. This marked the third time this season that he had seven or more strikeouts and one or fewer walks. His 10 strikeouts were one shy of a career high set on Feb. 22 of this season at Memphis, when he fanned 11.
 
Lockwood became the first Valpo player to win a weekly award from the league office this season and garnered his third career MVC Pitcher of the Week designation, becoming the first Valpo player to win that honor three times since Valpo joined the Missouri Valley Conference. Valpo has captured the award 10 total times since joining The Valley as Lockwood is joined by Colin Fields (twice), Bryce Konitzer, Jacob Rosenkranz, Jake Miller, Bobby Nowak and Easton Rhodehouse.
 
Valpo will play at Purdue at 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. ET on B1G+.