WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University junior Ryan O'Connor (Newburyport/Newburyport HS) has been selected as the Division II National Pitcher of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association following his no-hitter this past Saturday, the Falcons' first since 1972 covering a span of over 1500 games.

O'Connor struck out five and walked three, including the first two batters of the game (both on 3-2 counts), during the 5-0 win over Saint Anselm College at DeFelice Field. He retired 26 of the final 27 batters he faced, with the lone runner to reach erased one pitch later by a double play.

The win was the fifth straight for the lefthander, who is 5-2 on the season with a 1.50 ERA and a .196 opponents' batting average in eight starts. Seven of those starts have come against East Region opponents with his numbers in those games including a 1.24 ERA and a .174 opponents' average.  One of his two losses came in the season-opener at number one-ranked Tampa, a 2-1 blemish to a Spartan team that is currently a sensational 42-2.

O'Connor, whose father Mike played for Bentley for three years in the early 80s before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs, was previously named the Northeast-10 Conference and NCBWA Division II East Region Pitcher of the Week.

O'Connor, who was 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA last year, projects to make his next start this weekend during the Falcons' three-game series at Franklin Pierce University. Bentley will make the trek to Rindge in first place in the NE-10's Northeast Division, with records of 19-10 overall and 11-2 in the Northeast.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball with membership open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport.