Texas A&M - Kingsville Athletics

2019: LSC Pitcher of the Week March 19…started 10 games and made three relief appearances for a 5-5 record…compiled a 6.44 ERA with 43 runs allowed, 36 earned, in 50 and 1/3 innings pitched…stuck out 51 and issued 27 walks…allowed 59 hits for a .289 batting average…struck out a season-high seven on three occasions, first against Missouri-St. Louis on February 23 in six innings pitched, second against Eastern New Mexico on March 16 in six innings pitched, and third against Tarleton on April 6 in six and 2/3 innings pitched…took the win against West Texas A&M on March 23 with six strikeouts in six innings pitched

2018: All-LSC honorable mention…LSC Pitcher of the Week March 13…made 19 relief appearances for a 1-2 record and six saves…compiled a 3.24 ERA through 33.1 innings pitched…held opponents to a .222 average while striking out 53 and issuing 15 walks…struck out a season-high seven on Feb. 23 against St. Mary’s…went nine straight relief appearances without giving up an earned run from March 4 (vs. UTPB) through April 21 (vs. UTPB) and gave up only one earned run from March 4 through May 6 (vs. Cameron)…struck out three in 1.2 innings of work in the NCAA South Central Regional Championship against Colorado Mesa on May 20

Prior to TAMUK: Played for Coastal Bend College from 2016-17

2017: Made 14 appearances with seven starts for a 2-4 record in 51.2 innings pitched…compiled a 5.05 ERA with 37 runs allowed, 29 earned…struck out 65 and walked 28…pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts against Tyler JC on May 18…struck out nine batters in two other contests, against Texas Lutheran (Feb. 28) and TCS Post Grad (March 7)…Picked up wins against Laredo (Feb. 21) and Texas Lutheran (Feb. 28)

2016: Made five appearances with one start for a 1-0 record in 14 innings pitched…compiled a 1.93 ERA with five runs allowed, three earned…struck out 14 and walked 10…picked up the win against St. Edward’s JV on April 6…struck out six against Murray State on Feb. 5

High School: Prepped at Lehman High School in Kyle, Texas

Personal: Native of Austin, Texas…son of Leisa Hietala and Robert Valdez…father is a computer programmer…has two brothers, Daniel and Justin…favorite movie is Forrest Gump…civil engineering major