April 6, 2009
ST. LOUIS -
Illinois State freshman softball pitcher Jordan Birch continues to shine exactly when her team needs her, and with two more strong outings last week, she was honored with her second State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honor this season, the league office announced Monday. Birch's honor is the third MVC Pitcher of the Week designation for a Redbird pitcher this season, as Birch picked up her first honor March 2, while senior Amber Smith was named Valley Pitcher of the Week March 30.
The award also marked the first time an Illinois State pitcher won the league's pitcher of the week honor twice in one season since former Redbird Stacy Birk was a two-time recipient during the 2004 season. ISU has now claimed three State Farm MVC Pitcher of the Week accolades in the same season for the first time since former Redbird Audra Rast picked up three honors in 2002.
In two complete-game starts last week against Missouri Valley Conference foes, Birch was a perfect 2-0 in the circle. She pitched a team-high 14.0 innings, while striking out 22 batters, for an average of 1.6 batters struck out per inning. Opposing hitters were able to record just a .180 average against her, while she held opponents to only one earned run and did not allow a single walk.
Birch began her dominant week April 1 in a 3-1 win over Indiana State. In that game, she struck out a career-high 13 batters to tie a Missouri Valley Conference season-high for batters struck out by any Valley pitcher. Birch also struck out the side in the top of the third inning against the Sycamores - the second time this season she has done so.
She followed up her stellar outing against Indiana State with a 7-2 victory over Missouri State Saturday. Against the Bears, Birch surrendered only three hits and did not allow a single earned run while walking none and striking out nine batters.
Birch and the Redbirds return to the softball diamond at 6 p.m. Tuesday when they travel to Urbana, Ill., to take on in-state foe Illinois.
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