Ball State University Athletics
Steinbach Named MAC West Softball Pitcher of the Week
March 01, 2016 | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - Ball State softball senior pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week for her role in helping guide the Cardinals to three wins at last weekend's WKU Holiday Inn Spring Fling (Feb. 26-28).
Steinbach, who earns the honor for the first time this season and the 11th time in her career, turned in her best weekend of the 2016 season by finishing the three-day event with a perfect 3-0 record and allowing just three earned runs over 16.1 innings of work. She also finished the tournament with a 1.29 ERA, 14 strikeouts and held opponents to a .177 batting average.
Steinbach opened play at the WKU Holiday Inn Spring Fling with a complete game victory over Southeast Missouri, holding the Redhawks to just four hits and three unearned runs over 7.0 innings of work. Steinbach held Southeast hitless over the first 4.2 innings of the game, including striking out four consecutive batters in the first two innings of play.
In her second start of the weekend, Steinbach earned the victory over Western Carolina by holding the Catamounts to just five hits and four runs (three of which were earned) over 5.1 innings of work. She was perfect through the first three innings, including striking out the side in the third frame. She finished the contest with six total strikeouts.
Steinbach earned her final win of the weekend in a relief appearance versus Valparaiso, limiting the Crusaders to just two hits over 4.0 innings. She entered the game to open the bottom of the fourth inning and promptly struck out the first batter she faced. She also struck out the final batter of the fourth inning and finished the game with four total strikeouts.
On the year, Steinbach has compiled a 6-2 overall record, along with a 3.18 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 50.2 innings of work. She has thrown five complete games, including a shutout victory over Houston (Feb. 20). Over her career, Steinbach ranks fourth in program history with 54 career pitching victories, while her 401 career strikeouts are tied for fifth on Ball State's all-time list.
Steinbach and the Ball State softball team open their 11-day, 11-game spring break trip to Florida this Friday (March 4) when it plays Stony Brook (2 p.m.) and Florida Gulf Coast University (4:30 p.m.) in the first day of the FGCU / Four Points by Sheraton Spring Break Classic.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
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