PEORIA, Ill. -- Senior pitcher Joe Bircher (Omaha, Neb./Roncalli Catholic) has been named the Bradley Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week announced Wednesday after breaking the Bradley career strikeout record in Friday's series opener against Indiana State.

Bircher struck out seven hitters and took a three-hit shutout into the eighth inning against the league-leading Sycamores.  He pushed his career strikeout total to 264, breaking Wyman Carey's previous career mark of 261 strikeouts which had stood since 1959.  A psychology major, Bircher owns a 3.13 cumulative grade point average. 
 
Each week, a Bradley student-athlete is selected as the Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week.  The individual chosen must be at least a sophomore in class standing and boast a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average, while displaying a level of athletic excellence.

The Bradley baseball team opens a four-game road swing Wednesday with a 6:05 p.m. game at Iowa.  Bircher will return to the mound Friday when the Braves open a three-game series with a 4:30 p.m. game at I-74 rival Illinois State.