SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State junior closer Dan Kickham is this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday afternoon.

    Kickham saved all three Missouri State wins over Bradley last week to increase his MVC-leading save total to 13 and tie Milwaukee Brewer Shaun Marcum’s school record for saves in a season.

    The Springfield native did allow a run Friday before retiring the next three hitters in a 5-4 victory, pitched around a hit Saturday to preserve MSU’s 2-1 win, and sat down BU’s 2-3-4 hitters in order with a pair of strikeouts Sunday as the Bears won 7-4 to earn the series sweep. Kickham’s ERA is now 0.68 on the season.

    The Bears (30-18, 11-6 MVC, second place) host No. 22 Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. Tuesday and travel to first-place Creighton (35-13, 12-6) for a three-game series to close the regular season this weekend. The CU series begins at 12 p.m. Thursday.