Softball | March 05, 2019

KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan sophomore pitcher Sydney Stefanick was named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week after three impressive appearances this past week during the team's spring trip to Florida.

Stefanick allowed just one earned run over 17.0 innings pitched, going 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA. She threw two complete games and three innings of relief. She struck out nine and held opposing hitters to a .117 batting average.

In a 2-0 victory over Incarnate Word on March 1, WMU's first win of the season, Stefanick fired a one-hit shutout, striking out five. The following day, she hurled a complete game without allowing an earned run in a win over Binghamton in which she struck out four batters.

She also delivered the game-winning hit at the plate against Binghamton. With her team trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Stefanick smashed her first career grand slam to give the Broncos the 8-5 victory. She finished the game from the pitcher's circle retiring Binghamton with a 1-2-3 inning in the top seventh.

Stefanick's third appearance of the weekend was throwing three inning of relief against USF in a no decision. With her performance this week, she lowered her season ERA from 5.56 to 2.47, which is second lowest in the conference.

The Broncos are back in action in Florida Wednesday, March 6, facing Detroit at 12:15 p.m., followed by South Dakota State at 2:30. WMU has a total of eight games remaining on its Florida trip.