After just two series as a Duck, Conner Harber has been named the Pac-12 pitcher of the week. It was announced by the conference on Monday.

The junior transfer from West Nevada College threw six no-hit innings in relief to hold off the New Mexico State Aggies in the final innings of a close 3-1 game. Harber entered the game in the fourth with the game tied at 1-1.

“The fact that he could finish and we didn’t have to go to (Garrett Cleavinger or Stephen Nogosek) sets us up a little better for tomorrow and the rest of the weekend,” Horton said following Friday’s game. “I think he’s very difficult to hit, as I continue to say, I think he has a slippery fastball.”

In two appearances, Harber is 2-0 and has yet to yield a run in 11.0 innings, while striking out 12 and allowing just two hits.

Harber has been Horton’s go-to long-relief pitcher following ace Cole Irvin, who has been limited in his first two appearances because of his recovery from Tommy John Surgery. Harber is expected to be in the running for a starting job as soon as Irvin can go deeper into games.

“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Harber said last Wednesday on entering the game as a reliever opposed to starting. “Last year I was (a starter) then I switched also, so who knows? I think I’m going to switch to a starter after the next couple of weeks or so.”

Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @andrewbantly