News

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - For the second week in a row, Shannon Rachel, a member of the Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's fastpitch softball team, has been selected as the American Mideast Conference and NAIA Region IX Pitcher of the Week for her efforts during the week of March 31-April 6.

Rachel, a sophomore right-hander from Galion, Ohio, tossed a pair of shutouts during the week as the Lady Cougars posted a 3-1 record. In 13 innings of work, she allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters.

The former All-Ohioan at Colonel Crawford High School began the week by tossing a three-hitter against Notre Dame College with six strikeouts as MVNU prevailed 8-0 in six innings. She followed that with a one-hitter versus Kenyon College that included five strikeouts as the Lady Cougars won 6-0.

For the season, Rachel has a 5-4 record on the mound with a 1.61 earned run average. In 69 2/3 innings, she has allowed just 16 earned runs and 12 walks while striking out a team-high 29 batters. Opponents are hitting just .220 against her on the season (56-for-254). All four of her losses are by two runs or less.

MVNU is currently 11-9 overall and 2-2 in AMC Central Division play. The Lady Cougars will return to action on Thursday when the team will host Malone College in another conference doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.