After notching her second no-hitter of her Illinois State career, senior Nicole Kurth was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second-straight week. This weeks honor is the third this season, and sixth time in two years.
The Bartonville, Ill., native won three conference games this past week starting on the mound, including two over second-place Southern Illinois. She pitched a no-hitter against the Salukis with 18 strikeouts as she was one seventh-inning walk away from a perfect game.
Her 18 Ks shattered the Illinois State single-game mark for most strikeouts in a game. Kurth held the record at 13, setting the mark last season against Northern Illinois.
Kurths performances have helped the Illinois State softball team to a 21-10 overall record, 10-1 in the Valley. Currently, the Redbirds are in first place in the MVC standings.
Named pitcher of the week on April 2, Kurth currently holds an 8-1 record in conference games and 13-3 overall record. She has 145 strikeouts in 105.1 innings pitched and her 1.40 ERA is a team best.
