March 2, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - After posting a 3-0 record with one save last week, junior Ashleigh Cole (Pace, Fla.) was named Conference USA's Pitcher of the Week, league officials announced Monday. The junior allowed only five earned runs in 26.1 innings pitched for a 1.33 ERA to help the UCF softball team to a 6-1 record.
Cole opened the week with a 6-2 win over Centenary, allowing only one earned run on seven hits, while striking out six batters in the complete-game outing. The next day, Cole earned her second victory of the week against Eastern Michigan. The Eagles could only muster three earned runs on seven hits off of Cole. The hurler also allowed only two walks to EMU, while striking out six batters for the second-straight contest.
Cole came in relief against Syracuse, giving up only one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks in five innings of work, before earning her second career save in the win over Tennessee State. In the outing, Cole got the final out of the inning as she just faced one batter.
Her third win of the week came in the Knights' UCF Invitational finale against Maine. Cole three-hit the Black Bears, while posting a season-high seven strikeouts to earn her first shutout of the season.
The weekly honor is the first for Cole in 2009 and the first of her career.
The Knights are back in action on Wednesday when they host Loyola (Ill.) in a single contest at 3 p.m. at the UCF Softball Complex.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2009 softball season, which features 34 home games at the UCF Softball Complex. For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
-UCF-