Denver, Colo. - San Jose State University senior left-hander David Berner has been named the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week of February 16-22.

Berner, a native of Santa Clara, Calif., who graduated from Santa Clara High School prior to spending two years at West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif., tossed a three-hit shutout, the first of his major college career, in the 2009 season opener for San Jose State against Saint Joseph’s University on Friday, February 20. He struck out 10, falling one short of his major college high of 11, which came in his Spartan debut almost one year ago to the day, on February 22, 2008.

Berner faced only two batters over the minimum (29), and retired 16 straight Hawk batters between the third and eighth frames. He set down the side in order six different times on the day. He allowed three hits and did not issue a walk, throwing 97 pitches, with 68 of them strikes. The game took just one hour and 54 minutes to play, marking San Jose State’s fastest game since a one hour and 51-minute home affair against Louisiana Tech on April 18, 2003, which the Spartans won, 3-1. This marks Berner’s first weekly WAC award.

Berner was recognized earlier on Monday, February 23, as one of 12 Recruiting Closer National Pitchers of the Week for the first weekend of the 2009 season.

San Jose State altered its weekend schedule with Saint Joseph’s to avoid impending rain in the Bay Area on Sunday, and pulled off difficult doubleheader sweeps on back-to-back days to take all four meetings with the visiting Hawks and begin the year a perfect 4-0. The Spartans trailed at the end of just three of the 36 innings played between the teams. Through the first weekend of the season, SJSU is first in the WAC in team ERA (1.75) and tied for first in fielding percentage (.974).

Louisiana Tech third baseman Chris Kersten was chosen as the WAC Hitter of the Week. The senior from Kiowa, Kan., hit .700 (7-for-10), with four home runs and three doubles, and drove in 13 runs, in helping the Bulldogs to a three-game sweep over Grambling State.

The other hitter of the week nominations were Fresno State sophomore shortstop Danny Muno; Nevada junior shortstop Kevin Rodland; New Mexico State junior leftfielder Leo Aguirre; and Sacramento State junior outfielder Tim Wheeler.

The other pitcher of the week nominations were Fresno State senior Holden Sprague; Louisiana Tech junior John Anderson; Nevada senior Sammy Miller; New Mexico State senior Sebastien Vendette; and Sacramento State freshman Jesse Darrah.