Northwestern University Athletics
Danielle Williams Wins Big Ten/National Pitcher of the Week Honors
3/1/2022 12:02:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern softball's Danielle Williams was named the NFCA National DI Pitcher of the Week as well as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday afternoon, following yet another stellar weekend on the biggest stage.
Williams appeared in all five of Northwestern's games at the Mary Nutter Classic, the nation's most prestigious non-conference softball tournament, making two starts and earning a win in each of Northwestern's three victories over the weekend.
The senior left hander allowed just one run in 20.0 innings pitched, striking out 23 batters and allowing just six hits over the entire weekend. Among all qualifying pitchers in the 27-team Mary Nutter field, her 0.35 ERA led all pitchers, while her .100 opposing batting average ranked second.
The Pleasanton, Calif. native opened the weekend with a 7.0-inning shutout over No. 9 Oregon. Williams carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning en route to a 1-0 victory to open the weekend. Later that night, Williams pitched the final 2.0 innings of Northwestern's extra-innings win over San Diego State. Despite a runner starting on second to begin the eighth and ninth innings (internatonal tiebreak rule), Williams held the Aztecs scoreless both innings while not allowing a hit in either inning.
One day after her shutout over Oregon, Williams tossed her second shutout over a Top-10 opponent of the weekend on Saturday in a 1-0 win over No. 5 Washington. Williams retired 21 of the 26 Huskies batters she faced, allowing just three hits while striking out eight.
With just seven starts on the season, Williams now leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation with four shutouts on the year. Her 80 strikeouts on the year also lead the conference and rank fifth in the nation, while her 0.95 ERA (8 ER/59.0 IP) ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
Williams appeared in all five of Northwestern's games at the Mary Nutter Classic, the nation's most prestigious non-conference softball tournament, making two starts and earning a win in each of Northwestern's three victories over the weekend.
The senior left hander allowed just one run in 20.0 innings pitched, striking out 23 batters and allowing just six hits over the entire weekend. Among all qualifying pitchers in the 27-team Mary Nutter field, her 0.35 ERA led all pitchers, while her .100 opposing batting average ranked second.
The Pleasanton, Calif. native opened the weekend with a 7.0-inning shutout over No. 9 Oregon. Williams carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning en route to a 1-0 victory to open the weekend. Later that night, Williams pitched the final 2.0 innings of Northwestern's extra-innings win over San Diego State. Despite a runner starting on second to begin the eighth and ninth innings (internatonal tiebreak rule), Williams held the Aztecs scoreless both innings while not allowing a hit in either inning.
One day after her shutout over Oregon, Williams tossed her second shutout over a Top-10 opponent of the weekend on Saturday in a 1-0 win over No. 5 Washington. Williams retired 21 of the 26 Huskies batters she faced, allowing just three hits while striking out eight.
With just seven starts on the season, Williams now leads the Big Ten and ranks second in the nation with four shutouts on the year. Her 80 strikeouts on the year also lead the conference and rank fifth in the nation, while her 0.95 ERA (8 ER/59.0 IP) ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
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