Freshman Plutko named Pac-10 POW after Sunday shutout

From UCLA:

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - UCLA freshman right-hander Adam Plutko has secured Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week acclaim for the first time in his career. Plutko threw a two-hit complete game shutout on Sunday afternoon in UCLA's 4-0 victory, helping the Bruins sweep a three-game Pac-10 series at Oregon.

Plutko faced three batters over the minimum in the Bruins' 4-0 win on Sunday, recording seven strikeouts and one walk. The resident of Upland, Calif., allowed just one baserunner through the final five innings. He has gone 4-3 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) as a freshman this spring.

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, Plutko ranks second in the Pac-10 in ERA (behind teammate Trevor Bauer) and has posted the sixth-lowest opponent batting average (.194). He is tied for 10th in the conference with 68 strikeouts.

Plutko is the second UCLA pitcher this season to earn the conference's weekly accolade. Trevor Bauer, a junior from Valencia, Calif., has secured Pac-10 Pitcher of the Week acclaim five times.

Ranked No. 24 in the nation by Baseball America and No. 13 by Collegiate Baseball, UCLA plays five games this week. The Bruins play at Long Beach State on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.) and host UC Santa Barbara at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Wednesday (6 p.m.). UCLA hosts a three-game non-conference series against Cal State Bakersfield beginning Friday, May 13.