State College, Pa., April 11, 2001 - Penn State junior right hander Mike Watson (Altoona, Pa.) has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, conference officials announced yesterday. The selection marks the second straight week in which a Nittany Lion hurler was honored with the conference honor, following Dan McCall (Boalsburg, Pa.) earning Big Ten Co-Pitcher of the Week honors last week.

Watson tossed the Lions' first compete-game shutout of the season and allowed only three hits in the team's 1-0 over Iowa in the second game of a doubleheader last Saturday. He has won his last two starts after spending last season and the beginning of the 2001 campaign as the Lions' top pitcher out the bullpen. Saturday's starting assignment was only his third in his first three seasons.

The junior currently is 2-1 overall on the season with 28 strikeouts in 31.0 innings pitched, fourth highest on the Penn State staff.

Penn State returns to action this weekend as it travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue in a four-game Big Ten series. The Lions and Boliermakers will kick off the weekend's action on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (CT).