SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK (APRIL 21, 2025)
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK (MARCH 17, 2025)
2025 Season:Â
• Shared the team lead with 14 starts.
• led Northwestern State in wins (7), innings pitched (76 1-3) and in strikeouts (63).
• picked up his seventh win of the season, retiring 15 straight hitters at one point, in a May 10 series-clinching win against McNeese.
• worked six innings without allowing an earned run, picking up his sixth win of the season, in an April 19 win against Lamar.
• did not allow an earned run in 7 1-3 innings, earning the win against Nicholls on March 30.
• tossed a 100-pitch, complete-game four-hit shutout at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 16, earning Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors.
• allowed one run in five innings against UIW on March 9 to pick up his second win of the season.
• turned in a quality start in a career-high seven innings, taking a no-decision while allowing three earned runs, in a March 2 loss at Southeastern Louisiana.
• earned the win in his Northwestern State debut, striking out eight in a Feb. 16 series-clinching victory against Central Arkansas.
• Went 6-3 with a 4.05 ERA in his lone season at Jones College.
• struck out 91 in 80 innings as Jones went 41-16 and was the runner up in the MACCC Region 23 Tournament.
• spent two seasons at Nicholls, redshirting in 2022.
• made three appearances for the 2023 Southland Conference regular-season and tournament champions.
• Dean’s List student graduated with a 3.5 GPA.
High School:Â
• Four-year letterman for the Eagles.
• first-team all-district and all-state as a senior, going 8-1 on the mound with 96 strikeouts and a 2.88 ERA.
• was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 34 strikeouts before the COVID-19 pandemic ended his junior season.
• first-team all-district and all-state as a sophomore, going 6-3 with 72 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA.
• helped Central Catholic win three district titles and reach the state semifinals as a sophomore.
• three-time Academic All-State selection.
• two-year football letterman.
• helped Central Catholic to a 13-7 record and a pair of playoff berths across two seasons.
• graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
Personal:Â
• Born Aug. 18, 2002.
• son of Danielle Ballance and Jason Hillen.
• has three brothers, Brady, Gregory and Erik.
• majoring in general studies with an arts and sciences concentration.
• plans to play professional baseball, start a business and become a coach.
• life’s ambition is to become a Major League Baseball player.
