SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fresh off a performance that earned him his first victory of the season, senior right-hander Evan Gibbons was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon.

It is the first career honor for Gibbons, who became the first Hornet hurler to win the award since teammate Kade Brown did so on April 22 of last season.

The three-time WAC All-Academic Team selection put up a stellar start in game three of the series against Ball State on Feb. 21, picking up his first "quality start" of the season while combining on a three-hit shutout. 

Brown allowed only two hits and five baserunners total over six shutout innings, walking a pair and tying his career high with eight strikeouts. Of the five Cardinals that reached base during his time on the mound, Gibbons stranded four of those in scoring position as Sacramento State went on to win the game, 2-0.

The eight strikeouts matched his high bar set in 2023 against Utah Tech and tied twice in 2024 in starts against Utah Valley and Stephen F. Austin. Gibbons is tied for second on the team with 10 strikeouts over 10.2 innings of work, holding opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.

Following a short break, Gibbons and the Hornets return to the diamond on Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 6 p.m., opening a four-game home series against South Dakota State at John Smith Field. It is the third consecutive four-game series to start the season for Sacramento State, which will have played its first 12 games within a span of 16 days.