SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – April 16, 2007 – Samantha Rhodes of Springfield College has been named this week’s Pitcher of the Week in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference.

The sophomore lefthander from Mendon, Mass. went 2-0 on the week with a 2.06 ERA in four appearances (all Springfield College victories). In 17.0 innings pitched, she struck out 21, while walking only two. She gave up 12 hits and five earned runs.

In an 8-0 complete-game 5-inning victory over MCLA last Tuesday, she pitched a 2-hit shutout. She also pitched an important complete-game 3-2 victory over WPI last Saturday, a game that put Springfield into first-place in the NEWMAC by percentage points. In that game, she struck out seven and walked two, giving up just four hits.

Rhodes is currently 7th in the league, and first on the team, in strikeouts with 69.

As a team, Springfield has won seven straight contests. The Pride is 18-10 overall, and 9-3 in the conference. SC pitching has been the beneficiary of some outstanding hitting this past week. In the past six games, Springfield has batted .414 as a team, and averaged 9.7 runs. Twelve batters have hit .333 or better in that span, led by freshman catcher Michelle Wlosek (Nutley, N.J.), who batted .588.

SC was scheduled to play at Keene State today, but that doubleheader has been rained out. SC is scheduled to play at RPI in a doubleheader Tuesday (weather permitting) at 3 p.m.

published: 04/16/2007