St. John's University Athletics
Fitzgerald Named Co-BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
5/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 3, 2004
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - St. John's University softball senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Bellerose, N.Y.) was named Co-BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week for this past week, as it was announced by the league office this afternoon. Fitzgerald, who receives the honor for the first time this season, and third time in her career, shares the award with Heather Booth of Notre Dame.
Fitzgerald led the Red Storm to a 5-1 overall record this week and 3-1 mark in BIG EAST play. She went 4-0 overall, posting a 0.72 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 29 innings. In her 29 innings of work, she posted four complete games, allowing only three runs on 15 hits. Fitzgerald pitched 25.2 consecutive scoreless innings this week, extending her streak to 33, before allowing a run in the fifth inning in game one on Sunday.
The week began for the Red Storm as Fitzgerald pitched a complete game shutout in their 6-0 victory over Sacred Heart. With the win and shutout, she became St. John's all-time career leader in both categories. Currently, she has 57 wins, surpassing the previous total of 53 by Gina Calabrese and 21 shutouts, topping the old record of 18 held by Tami Weber.
With the Red Storm fighting for a BIG EAST Tournament berth, Fitzgerald stepped up against Villanova, who finished second in the league, on Saturday to throw two complete game shutouts. St. John's downed the Wildcats, 3-0 and 1-0, as Fitzgerald went all 14 innings, allowing only seven hits and no walks, while striking out 17 Villanova batters.
Fitzgerald started her third straight game on Sunday, as she defeated Rutgers, 5-3. In the game, she allowed the three runs on only four hits and two walks, while striking out 10 Scarlet Knight batters.
On the season, Fitzgerald is 15-3 with a 1.37 ERA, having held opponents batters to a .187 batting average. She is averaging more than one strikeout per inning, having struck out 132 batters in 127.1 innings pitched.
The Red Storm, 26-24 overall and 8-8 in the BIG EAST, continue BIG EAST play at Red Storm Field next weekend, when they host Syracuse on Saturday, May 8 at noon.