CLEVELAND – Western Michigan softball senior pitcher Rissa Bajusz has been named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday. Bajusz's Pitcher of the Week selection marks her third MAC Pitcher of the Week title of her career. For the first time in her tenure at WMU, Bajusz has been named MAC Pitcher of the Week twice in a single season. 

Last week in her four appearances (19.2 total IP), Bajusz averaged 1.62 strikeouts per inning and allowed only 0.52 hits per inning after posting 31 total strikeouts. Her numbers in the circle would limit opposing batters to a minuscule .147 batting average on the week. After producing 31 strikeouts last week, Bajusz ranks first in the MAC in a plethora of categories: A season average of a 1.93 ERA, batters struck out looking (34), total strikeouts (136), and opposing batting average (.195). Additionally, with her save this past week, Bajusz also moved to a tie for first in the MAC with two saves on the year.

After collecting 31 strikeouts, Bajusz has amassed 424 career strikeouts which ranks fourth all-time in WMU softball program history. Bajusz is now 22 strikeouts away from passing Reily Galloway (2018-2022) for the third-most career strikeouts in WMU program history.

At the plate, the senior produced the game-tying run in the bottom of the 7th inning off a home run against Akron University in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, to help WMU to a fifth straight victory. Bajusz's home run marked her first home run of the season and the sixth of her career.

With her selection as MAC Pitcher of the Week, Bajusz became the first Bronco pitcher since Jordan Kurth (2018 season) to earn multiple MAC Pitcher of the Week honors during a single campaign. 

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