April 18, 2006
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State's Celena Velasquez (Tucson, Ariz./University HS) has been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for her play in the Aztecs' doubleheader sweep over UNLV on Saturday. It is the 11th career award for the senior and the third by a San Diego State pitcher this season, joining freshman Melissa Owens (March 7) and sophomore Christina Ross (April 4).
A senior, Velasquez went 2-0 with a 1.75 ERA in SDSU's 3-2 and 5-2 victories on Saturday. In a combined 8.0 innings, she struck out 10 batters without issuing a walk.
Velasquez came in relief in the seventh inning of the first game with no outs and a runner on first, and allowed only one hit to get out of the inning. She earned the win when the Aztecs scored a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Velasquez pitched a complete game in the nightcap and struck out a season-high 10 batters without giving up a walk. She did not allow a Rebel runner past second base until a pinch-hit two-run homer by Sandy Nakamura in the top of the seventh inning.
In 57 2/3 innings this season, Velasquez is 8-3 with an ERA of 2.67, while limiting her opponents to a .240 batting average. She has struck out 57 and walked six for an impressive 9.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Over the last 24 1/3 innings, Velasquez is 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA, 25 strikeouts and just two walks.
The Aztecs (23-8, 8-0 MWC), who are receiving votes in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate national poll, will look to continue their eight-game winning streak when they travel to Colorado State (1 p.m. MT Friday) and New Mexico (noon MT Sunday) for a pair of doubleheaders this weekend.