Connor Lockwood, a redshirt senior right‑handed pitcher for Valparaiso University, capped a standout collegiate career by receiving multiple accolades from the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2026 season.
The conference highlighted Lockwood’s durability, noting that he led the MVC in innings pitched for the second consecutive year and logged four complete games — the most in the league and tied for the Division‑I national lead.
His statistical footprint extended beyond volume, as he posted a career‑best 3.86 ERA, ranked second in the MVC and 15th nationally in strikeout‑to‑walk ratio at 6.56, and placed third nationally in walks allowed per nine innings at 0.87.
Lockwood also finished the season as the NCAA Division‑I leader among active players in total innings pitched, amassing 329 ⅓, and helped Valparaiso secure the university’s Male Performance of the Year Award at the 2026 ARC Awards.
Conference Recognition Across the Board
Teammate Eli Riley was recognized for his defensive impact, finishing fourth in the league’s Defensive Player of the Year voting and ranking among the nation’s top runners thrown out, while freshman Cal Schembra earned runner‑up mention for Freshman of the Year.
The awards marked a historic milestone, as Lockwood became the first Valpo player to earn first or second team All‑MVC honors since 2024, underscoring the program’s resurgence on the national stage.
The Missouri Valley Conference’s All‑Defensive Team selections also featured Valparaiso’s contributions, reflecting a broader defensive emphasis that helped several teams tighten their game plans throughout the season.