March 8, 2006
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State's Melissa Owens (Christian HS/San Diego, Calif.) has been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for her performances in wins over San Diego and Loyola Marymount last week. The award was the first for the freshman and first by an Aztec this season.
Owens, a right-hander, went 2-0 and posted a 0.00 ERA in the two appearances last week. She struck out 13 batters and did not give up a walk.
Against the Toreros, Owens tossed a complete game one-hitter and struck out a career-high eight batters in SDSU's 8-0 win in six innings. The eight strikeouts were the most by an Aztec pitcher this season. Owens retired the final 12 batters she faced after giving up a leadoff double in the third inning.
Owens also earned the win against the Lions (W, 7-2) after allowing no runs and five hits in four innings. She also struck out five batters without giving up a walk.
In 17.0 innings this season, Owens is 3-0 with an MWC-low ERA of 0.39, while limiting her opponents to a .197 batting average. She has struck out 21 batters, issued only one walk and has pitched 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings.
The Aztecs (13-4), who are receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate and USA Today/NFCA national polls, have won eight of their last nine games and are off to their best start in school history. They will host Cal State Fullerton in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday.