For the fourth time in her career and the first time this season, University of Southern Indiana Softball sophomore pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week in an announcement by the league office Monday afternoon.
Leonhardt (12-8) posted a 3-0 record this weekend as the Screaming Eagles swept GLVC doubleheaders from Rockhurst University and William Jewell College.
The reigning GLVC Freshman of the Year and Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association Midwest Region Pitcher of the Year began the week with a dominating three-hit shutout in USI’s 1-0 game-two victory over Rockhurst Friday. She racked up eight strikeouts and walked just one batter as she claimed her third straight win.
Leonhardt increased her winning streak to five straight with a pair of victories Sunday against William Jewell. She earned the decision in USI’s 6-5, game-one win over the Cardinals after entering the game in sixth inning to post four strikeouts in the six batters she faced.
In USI’s 6-2 win over the Cardinals in game two, Leonhardt racked up seven strikeouts while allowing just two runs off four hits in 5 1/3 innings of work to earn her 12th victory of the year.
For the weekend, Leonhardt posted a 1.02 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and a .163 opponent batting average in 13 2/3 innings of work.
On the year, Leonhardt has a 3.10 ERA and is third in the GLVC with 136 strikeouts. She also is seventh in the league with a .220 opponent batting average.
USI (23-16, 12-8 GLVC) returns to action Tuesday when it takes on Kentucky Wesleyan College in a Midwest Region doubleheader at the USI Softball Field. First pitch has moved back an hour to 6 p.m.
The Eagles resume GLVC play Saturday at noon when they travel to Rolla, Missouri, to take on Missouri University of Science & Technology. They conclude the 2018 regular-season road schedule Sunday at noon when they visit Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
