APPLETON, Wis. -- Lawrence University softball standout Catherine Marinac has been named the Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.
A sophomore from St. Paul, Minn., Marinac pitched the Vikings to a berth in the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament. Lawrence needed three wins in its four games last week, and Marinac went 3-1 with a 1.50 earned run average while throwing all 28 innings.
The former standout at St. Paul Central High School threw a pair of shutouts, both in must-win situations, and limited opponents to a .221 batting average. She struck out 13 and walked five.
After starting her week with a 3-1 loss to Ripon College, Marinac came back in the second game of the doubleheader in a must-win situation and fired a four-hit shutout in Lawrence's 2-0 win. She struck out five and walked two and allowed only two runners to advance as far as third base.
Against Beloit College on Saturday, she allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one in a 4-3 victory in the opener of the doubleheader. She came back in the nightcap and fired a four-hit shutout in Lawrence's 2-0 victory. She struck out three, walked one and didn't allow a runner past second base.
On the season, Marinac is 13-9 with a 2.41 earned run average.
The Vikings (17-14) return to action Friday when they face the host team, Lake Forest College, in an opening game at the Midwest Conference Tournament. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.