May 23, 2005

CLEVELAND - After providing dominating performances on the mound and at the plate during the past week, seniors Matt Kaltenbach and Mike Ochwat have been named the Horizon League's Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively. The league made the announcement Monday (May 23) afternoon.

Kaltenbach, the Vikings' ace starting pitcher, worked 17.0 innings in claiming a pair of wins last week. The right-hander tossed a nine-inning complete game against Purdue on May 17, limiting the Boilermakers to two earned runs on eight hits while striking out eight with no walks. On three days rest on May 21, the Stow, Ohio native threw 135 pitches and struck out nine in eight innings of work against Butler to secure the fifth seed in the Horizon League Championship for the Vikings.

Ochwat provided much of the offensive support in Cleveland State's four wins last week, collecting 10 hits in 21 at bats for a .476 average in six five games. The outfielder began the week by going 5-for-5 against Purdue on May 17 before ripping a triple and two home runs on the weekend against Butler. The lefty also worked 6.2 innings as the starting pitcher against the Bulldogs on May 19.

"Both Mike and Matt have really stepped up big for us in the last week," head coach Jay Murphy said. "They are both hitting their stride at the right time. Hopefully, they will be able to continue their success into the tournament."

Kaltenbach completed the regular season as the Vikings' leader with 96.0 innings pitched while recording 78 strikeouts and only 17 walks, a rate of over four strikeouts for every walk. Ochwat became CSU's top hitter in the second half of the season and finished the regular slate with a team-best .361 average and 12 steals.

Cleveland State will begin the Horizon League Championship against No. 4 Wright State on Wednesday (May 25) at Victory Field in Indianapolis beginning at 12:00 noon EDT.