April 19, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame softball pitcher Jody Valdivia was named BIG EAST Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Monday. Valdivia, a four-time recipient of the award this season, won five games last week without allowing an earned run.
The Anaheim Hills, Calif., native punched in 27.1 innings of work over five appearances for the Irish, including four cameos versus BIG EAST teams.
Now 10-0 in BIG EAST games this season, Valdivia (27-3) has been victorious in each of her last 20 regular-season league decisions (her last conference loss came during her freshman campaign in 2008).
Valdivia blanked Georgetown (April 14) with 12 strikeouts and one walk and tossed a brilliant one-hitter at No. 25 Louisville (April 17). She also notched the win over the Cardinals one day later (the only hit permitted in the opener against Louisville, a two-out bunt single in the fifth, was the first hit allowed by Valdivia in three appearances covering 9.1 innings)
Valdivia went 35.0 innings without allowing a run – earned or unearned – until the seventh inning of Sunday’s contest at Louisville, an unearned score by the Cardinals. Valdivia has not allowed an earned run in her last 35.1 frames in the circle.
–ND–