IRVINE, Calif. – True freshman Cooper Walls earned Big West Pitcher of the Week honors Monday for his dominant effort on the mound in Sunday's series-clinching 1-0 shutout victory over No. 15 UC Santa Barbara.
 
Walls worked seven shutout frames, scattering four hits while striking out three and walking two to earn his second consecutive win on the bump. The freshman did not allow a runner to advance past second base and set down eight in a row at one point from the fifth through seventh innings.
 
He helped the Rainbow Warriors secure their first series win over a ranked opponent since 2010 (Oregon) by combining with Isaiah Magdaleno on the team's first shutout of the season. Walls is the first Hawai'i freshman to be named conference pitcher of the week since UH joined the Big West in 2013.
 
The Carlsbad, Calif. native continued his rise throughout the first half of the season, running his scoreless innings pitched streak to 11 frames dating back to last week's appearance at UC Riverside. Walls also got the win in that appearance against the Highlanders and has not allowed a run in his 11.0 innings pitched in Big West play.
 
The Rainbow Warriors continue their homestand when they host UC Davis for a three-game series starting Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.