KALAMAZOO, Mich.- For the fourth time this season, Western Michigan senior pitcher Allyson Kus earned Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week honors, being tabbed as a co-recipient with Toledo's Marla Gooding.
Kus went 2-0 in two starts this past weekend and did not allow a run (0.00 ERA), helping Western Michigan earn a series sweep over visiting Eastern Michigan and clinch a spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament.
In game one, Kus hurled a complete-game, two-hit shutout in a 4-0 Bronco victory. She had a no-hitter going until the fifth inning, when EMU final finally managed a shallow single to right field. The Eagles' only other hit came in the top of the seventh.
Kus also started in the circle in game three and fired five shutout innings before reliever Jordan Kurth took over with a clean slate in the top of the sixth. Kus scattered four hits, all singles, and WMU went on to win 4-0 as she was credited with a combined shutout.
Kus totaled six strikeouts over 12 innings of work and surrendered just one walk in the two appearances. She did not allow an extra base hit and only six hits total, holding the Eagles to a .143 batting average.
She lowered her ERA on the year from 2.68 to 2.50 over the two outings. Her ERA in conference play dropped from 2.74 below .200 to 1.99. She finished the regular season with 15 wins, nine in conference.
Western Michigan has earned the No. 5 seed in the MAC Tournament and will face No. 4 seed Northern Illinois in the opening game of the tournament Wednesday, May 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
