John Curtiss earns share of Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award

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AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Longhorns freshman right-handed pitcher John Curtiss earned a share of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award the league announced on Monday.

Curtiss and Baylor’s Nathan Orf were named Co-Newcomers of the Week.

Curtiss pitched in three of Texas’ four games on the week, yielding just one hit in 8.1 scoreless innings of relief.

In the Longhorns’ 2-0 win against Texas State in midweek action, Curtiss earned his first collegiate victory with 3.0 innings of work. He scattered two walks while striking out one. In Friday night’s loss to Kansas, the rookie entered the game to start the fifth inning with Texas trailing 3-0 and worked two scoreless innings, walking two and striking out four. On Sunday, the northpaw’s appearance came with Texas trailing 2-0, one on and no outs in the second inning. He worked 3.1 innings, allowing one hit.

Curtiss has excelled out of the bullpen this year. He has worked 36.0 innings in 19 appearances, registering a 1-0 record with two saves and a 1.75 ERA. Overall, he is 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 21 games for his rookie campaign.

It marks the fourth time this season that a Longhorn has earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week recognition. Brooks Marlow earned the award on Feb. 20 and Mar. 5 and Parker French garnered the accolade on Mar. 19.

Texas returns to action on Tuesday when the Longhorns host the Central Arkansas Bears at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for a 6 p.m. contest.