April 30, 2002

RICHMOND, VA. -- Old Dominion University freshman pitcher Justin Verlander (Goochland, VA.) was named CAA Pitcher-of-the-Week. The 6-4 righthander fanned 15 batters to tie an ODU individual strikeout record against Drexel last week.

Verlander fanned the side twice and scattered four hits. It is the third time he has struckout ten or more batters this season. He fanned 12 against Virginia Tech and 11 against Princeton.

Verlander leads the CAA in earned run average with a 1.81, and ranks 12th nationally. In five CAA games he has a 1.74 ERA. Verlander has 106 strikeouts in 94.2 innings, second only to William and Mary's Whitt Farr.

Verlander joins former major leaguer, and ODU All-American pitcher Kevin Bearse ('87) and John Smith ('93) on the 15 strikeout list. Smith did it against East Carolina in 1992, while Bearse, the Sun Belt Conference all-time strikeout leader did it against Jacksonville and Norfolk State in 1984.

Old Dominion returns to action on Friday night when they host the Spartans of Norfolk State.