(Photo Courtesy of Missouri State Athletics)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Freshman pitcher Erin Struemph has been named this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced Monday (Feb. 24). She has been simply amazing in the circle for the Bears making her most impressive performances of the season at last weekend’s Blues City Classic. She registered a miniscule 0.45 ERA, going 2-0 and earning her first career save en route to an all-tournament first team selection.
On Friday, she entered the game in the seventh inning with the tying run at the plate against Morehead State. In just 0.2 innings, she registered a strikeout and a meager foul out to first base to record her first career save.
On Saturday, she pitched her second-straight complete game shutout, blanking Appalachian State on just three hits. She returned in the nightcap entering the game with two runners in scoring position with no outs and did not give up a run.
Then on Sunday, she pitched a complete game against Lipscomb taking a 23.1 scoreless innings streak into the seventh inning.
Struemph leads the MVC in ERA (1.26), opponent’s batting average (.208), batting average against with two outs (.130), batting average against with runners on base (.158) and is tied atop the league with five wins. She is the only Valley pitcher this season to pitch two seven-inning complete game shutouts. On the season, she has struck out at least one batter in nine of 10 outings, including two appearances of just 0.2 innings.
Missouri State travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for the annual Missouri Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament next weekend. MSU will face Saint Louis and SEMO on Saturday and play UMKC on Sunday before a seeded championship/third-place game rounds out the weekend. The Bears’ home opener is slated for March 12 vs. SIU Edwardsville at 5:00 p.m.
