After a dominant nine-inning performance on Saturday afternoon, CSUN Baseball’s sophomore left-handed pitcher Kenny Rosenberg has earned Big West Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, the league office announced on Monday. Rosenberg earned his sixth victory of the season with a complete game shutout of Purdue, fanning 12 batters and allowing just two hits. The nod is the third for Rosenberg in a season where he has led the team in strikeouts (113), innings pitched (92.0) and opponent batting average (.194).

“Kenny got better as the outing went on,” said head coach Greg Moore about Rosenberg’s start on Saturday. “He hit another gear in the sixth.”

Continuing to impress in his return to the mound this season, Rosenberg has emerged as one of the team’s top pitchers in 2016 after missing all of last season with an injury. The southpaw has made 14 starts on the season and allowed a 3.03 ERA and recorded a 6-1 record to go along with nine quality starts.

Saturday’s start was yet another outstanding performance for Rosenberg as recorded his first career shutout in a 6-0 victory at Purdue. Giving up just two hits in the contest, Rosenberg posted his second complete game on the year and his third double-digit strikeout performance.

Finding some success early against Rosenberg, Purdue put forth its best scoring chances in the opening innings of the contest. In both the first and second innings, Rosenberg faced a batter with two outs and two runners on base but he ended each threat with a strikeout. He walked a batter with two outs in the third before retiring the final batter and in the fourth he blanked Purdue after facing a two-out jam with runners at first and second base.

Allowing two hits through four innings, Rosenberg’s walk to Harry Shipley would be the final time a Purdue hitter reached base in the contest. Rosenberg retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings in quick fashion, tossing only 12 pitches to record the six outs. In the seventh, he struck out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning and needed only 10 pitches to set down all three batters in the bottom of the eighth. Seeking the shutout win, Rosenberg finished off the game in style, striking out the side to secure the team’s 32nd win of the season.

To end the game, Rosenberg retired the final 16 batters in a row and 18 of the last 19 batters. Over the last three innings, he recorded six strikeouts to move his total to 12 on the afternoon.

Becoming the first Matador since Craig Baker in 2006, Rosenberg surpassed the 100-strikeout milestone this season in a victory over UC Davis on May 14. His 12 strikeouts against Purdue, moved his season total to 113 and into CSUN’s all-time Top 10 for the most strikeouts in a single season. The Big West Conference leader in strikeouts, Rosenberg has fanned six or more batters in 13 of 14 starts on the year.

Rosenberg is the second Matador to post a shutout on the season as Angel Rodriguez tossed a three-hitter at George Mason in a 1-0 win on March 3. He is also the first CSUN pitcher to toss a two-hitter since Calvin Copping accomplished the feat against Hawai’i last season.

The native of Mill Valley, CA, has earned the conference’s pitcher of the week nod three times this season after earning the honor on February 29 and March 28. Rodriguez (March 7) and infielder Fred Smith (March 14) have also earned Big West Pitcher and Field Player of the Week honors respectively in 2016.

Rosenberg and the Matadors wrap up the regular season this weekend at UC Irvine. The three-game series with the Anteaters will begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m.