Malone University baseball sophomore Joshua Hurford was announced as the week nine Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) South Division Pitcher of the Week after a pair of sterling performances helped Malone to a 5-1 record.
 
In a start over rival Walsh University in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday, Hurford picked up his second win of the season, allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings. In the thick of a tightly contested division battle, his win came at the perfect time as Walsh had swept Malone just a week earlier.
 
In game one of a doubleheader on Saturday vs. Tiffin, Hurford, working on just two days of rest, entered in the top of the eighth with the game tied 3-3. The righthander proceeded to throw six scoreless relief innings, surrendering four hits and two walks while striking out five in a gritty performance.  In the top of the 13th, Hurford worked himself out of a bases loaded jam to preserve a 3-3 tie. Malone would go on to earn the victory on a walk-off in the bottom of the 14th.
 
Overall, Hurford went 1-0 on the week, struck out 10 batters, gave up just seven hits in 12 innings and posted a 0.75 ERA. The 2015 All-GLIAC Second Team selection is 2-1 on the year and has three saves. After a rough start to the season, he owns a 0.53 ERA in his last 17 innings and has lowered his overall mark to 5.04.