Bluffton University hurler Kelly Barnes (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Christian) tossed a complete game in Bluffton's 2-1 victory over Manchester Sunday and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 25, 2012. It marks the second time in his career that Barnes has earned Player of the Week honors, the first coming in May of 2010.
He threw 4.2 innings before allowing the Spartans' first hit of the game and then was one out away from a two-hit, complete game shutout when Manchester's Corey Marchant, the HCAC Hitter of the Week, hit a solo shot, his seventh of the season, to pull the Spartans within one. However, Barnes was not rattled and the next batter flied out, sealing the 2-1 victory. The senior fanned six, allowed just three hits and walked one while improving to 2-1.
The Beavers welcome Denison for their final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday, March 27, before going to Terre Haute, Ind., for a three-game set at Rose-Hulman starting on Friday, March 30.
