Michael Vaitkunas of Auburn, Mass., Tabbed NEWMAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week

2015 Apr 13

WPI sophomore Michael Vaitkunas has been chosen as the NEWMAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week for his performance during the weekend series against Coast Guard.

Vaitkunas, who was also named the WPI Men's Student-Athlete of the Week, entered the Engineers rubber game with Coast Guard in the top of the third inning with WPI trailing 5-0 and proceeded to throw seven shutout innings, earning the win as the Crimson and Gray came back to win 7-5. The sophomore allowed only four base runners and wiggled out of a jam in the ninth by picking off the tying run and one pitch later snaring a line drive back through the box to end the game. Vaitkunas also tossed a hitless inning against the Bears in WPI's series-opening victory.

The Engineers (16-11, 7-6 NEWMAC) travel to MIT tomorrow for a 3:30pm single NEWMAC game.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.