News

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Shannon Rachel, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's fastpitch softball team, has been selected as the American Mideast Conference and National Christian College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week for her performances during the week of March 24-30.

For the week, Rachel, a sophomore right-hander from Galion, Ohio, posted a 3-0 record with a 0.82 earned run average. In 25 2/3 innings, she allowed just three earned runs as the Lady Cougars won all four games that she started.

Rachel, a former All-Ohioan at Colonel Crawford High School, began the week by allowing just five hits and one earned run in a 9-4 victory over Western Connecticut State University, ranked eighth in NCAA Division III at the time. She followed that with a four-hitter and one earned run against Buena Vista (Iowa) University as MVNU won 4-3. Then, she picked up her third win of the week and fourth in a row overall as she scattered eight hits and one unearned run in a 2-1 victory over the University of Chicago (Ill.). She closed out the week by working the first 4 2/3 innings of the team's 4-3 win over St. Olaf (Minn.) College in which she allowed just one earned run but did not figure into the decision.

On the season, Rachel is now 4-3 with a 1.13 ERA. In 55 2/3 innings, she has allowed 46 hits, nine walks, and only nine earned runs while striking out 23 batters. Opposing batters are hitting just .223 against her.

The Lady Cougars are currently 10-7 overall and 2-0 in AMC Central Division play. The team will host Kenyon College in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. on Friday - weather permitting.