Bellarmine University junior pitcher Casey Willard (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) is the Great Lakes Valley Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week.
Willard went 4-0 in the circle last week to help the Knights post six straight games, including sweeps of UW-Parkside and Saint Joseph’s.
On Wednesday, Willard opened the week by posting a 7-1 victory at Kentucky State. She surrendered one earned run, five hits and struck out five in the victory. It was the only run Willard allowed on the week.
She returned on Saturday to register a 2-0 complete-game win over Saint Joseph’s. She scattered five hits, struck out two and did not allow a walk. Willard also returned in the nightcap to throw four and two-third innings of shutout relief in Bellarmine’s 6-5 victory. She gave up just two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out two.
Willard closed the week with a shutout over UW-Parkside. In the 1-0 win, she scattered five hits, walked one and struck out three.
On the week, Willard posted a 0.35 earned run average and struck out 12 in 25 and two-thirds innings of work. She is 9-14 this season with a 2.22 earned run average and has 99 strikeouts in 138.2 innings.
Bellarmine (19-29) is 10-14 in conference play and will play Georgetown (Ky.,), Lewis and Illinois-Springfield this week.
Other top performers in GLVC last week included Bellarmine’s Drury’s Jessica Matlock, Indianapolis' Megan Russell, Missouri S&T’s Kristen Drage, Northern Kentucky’s Chelsie Roy, Quincy’s Torie Bunzell and UW-Parkside’s Kallie Walczak.