COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- San Diego State softball's Maggie Balint has been named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. It is the first career MW accolade for the junior and second pitcher-of-the-week award by an Aztec this season (also Karina Faasisila on Feb. 23).
Balint led the Aztecs to a sweep on the road at UC Santa Barbara last weekend, going 2-0 with a save and a 0.42 ERA in 14 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out 17 without issuing a walk. Balint held the Gauchos, who came into the weekend batting .300, to a .192 average and just 10 hits (all singles).
In the opener Saturday, Balint yielded just a one-out single in the fourth, while striking out seven in five innings before giving way to Faasisila with a 10-0 SDSU lead. In the nightcap of a 6-2 San Diego State win, Balint entered in the sixth inning of a 4-2 game and ended up allowing one hit while striking out two to record the save. In a 5-4 Aztec victory Sunday to clinch the series sweep, she picked up the win after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits (all singles) over eight innings, striking out eight without issuing a walk.
On the season, Balint is 12-5 with a save and a 2.03 ERA in 106 2/3 innings. She has nine complete games, five solo shutouts, one combined shutout and has struck out 94 batters, while limiting the opposition to a .206 average. Among the MW leaders, Balint ranks first in appearances (21), second in wins (12) and innings pitched (106.2), third in ERA (2.03), strikeouts (94) and opponent batting average (.206), and tied for fourth in saves (1).
The Aztecs resume Mountain West play against San José State, playing two games on Saturday (2 p.m. PT) at SDSU Softball Stadium and one on Sunday (noon PT).