INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s James Hertel (Hillsboro, Ill.) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week.

Hertel, a senior right-hander for the Cougars, recorded 14 strikeouts in SIUE’s 18-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Mar. 31.

He went eight strong innings in the outing and surrendered just two hits and one walk.

The win was Hertel’s second on the season (2-1) and he lowered his team-leading earned run average to 1.38 with the scoreless outing.

He leads the Cougars in innings this year having thrown 32.2. Hertel has surrendered just five earned runs in five appearances while striking out 28.

SIUE will return to action on Apr. 7 at Southern Indiana. The Cougars have won seven of their last eight games and sit in fourth place in the GLVC.

Other top performances in the GLVC last week included Bellarmine’s Micah McNatt, Northern Kentucky’s Kevin Quick (pitcher), Quincy’s Greg Dowdall, Rockhurst’s Ryan Morgan, UIndy’s Aryn Ross and Southern Indiana’s Cory Julian.