Feb. 19, 2013

LONG BEACH, Calif. - Arizona junior pitcher James Farris was named the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced on Tuesday afternoon. The honor is the first of Farris' career.

The right-hander opened his junior campaign with a strong outing last Saturday in a 14-1 victory over Coppin State at Hi Corbett Field. In eight innings, Farris allowed just two hits and one run to go with a career-high eight strikeouts. He did not issue a walk and he retired the final 15 batters he faced in the game.

A product of Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Ariz., Farris has taken over the No. 2 spot in the UA pitching rotation after starring as the No. 3 pitcher a season ago. In his sophomore season, Farris posted an impressive 7-3 record and a 3.97 earned run average in 17 starts. He struck out 73 and walked just 20 in 106.2 innings pitched - a 1.69 walks per nine innings figure that ranked fifth-best in Pac-12. Additionally, he tossed three complete games to tie for fourth-most in the conference.

Farris saved some of his best pitching for his two postseason starts, going 1-0 with a 1.62 earned run average and 11 strikeouts against three walks in 16.2 innings. He was outstanding in his only start at the College World Series in the second championship game. In that decisive game, he scattered two hits and two walks with one run allowed to go with four strikeouts in the 7.2-inning, no-decision effort before the Wildcats scored three times in the top of the ninth to win national championship.

For his two-plus year career, Farris boasts an overall 8-3 record, a 4.05 earned run average and 82 strikeouts against 23 walks. Opponents hit .256 against him.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play Long Beach State this evening at Blair Field in Long Beach, Calif. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (PST).