April 22, 2013
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – On the strength of three dominant starts in the circle, University of Notre Dame junior Laura Winter has been named the BIG EAST Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Winter previously won the award earlier this season during the week of March 11.
College Sports Madness also tabbed Winter as its BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week in recognition of her performances during Notre Dame’s 4-0 stretch.
Winter (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) posted a 3-0 record with three complete games (two shutouts) last week against Michigan State and Pittsburgh. The Notre Dame ace allowed one run (0.33 ERA) on eight hits in 21 innings, walking two and striking out 35 batters (.113 batting average against).
The junior right-hander opened the week with a shutout at Michigan State April 16, allowing three hits and surrendering no walks to Spartan hitters, striking out eight. Winter kept the momentum going in game one of a BIG EAST doubleheader at Pittsburgh Saturday, allowing one run on four hits with 13 strikeouts on 120 pitches.
After playing first base in game two Saturday, the 6-1 hurler went the distance against the Panthers Sunday, taking a perfect game into the final inning. Winter allowed a lone single with one out in the seventh, no walks and tied a season-high with 14 strikeouts, including six consecutive in the second and third innings.
Winter was also a force in the batter’s box during Notre Dame’s undefeated week, batting a team-high .417 (5-for-12) with three home runs, eight RBI, a 1.667 slugging percentage, a .533 on-base percentage and four runs scored. She had her second career multi-homer game against Pittsburgh in game two Saturday, leaving the yard in the second and sixth innings of Notre Dame’s 10-2 win in six frames.
Winter added a pair of RBI hits Sunday, including a crucial three-run blast in the top of the first inning that provided the winning runs behind her near perfect game, and ranks second in the BIG EAST Conference with 12 big flies this season.
Notre Dame is scheduled to host Connecticut in a BIG EAST doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Melissa Cook Stadium.
2013 Notre Dame Softball BIG EAST Weekly Honorees
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Emilee Koerner: March 25
Emilee Koerner: Feb. 25
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Laura Winter: April 22
Laura Winter: March 11
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Casey Africano: April 15
Jenna Simon: April 8
Laura Winter: March 25
Katey Haus: March 18
Laura Winter: March 18
Emilee Koerner: March 4
Jenna Simon: Feb. 11
–ND–