DANA ALDRICH NAMED GSC WEST DIVISION SOFTBALL
PITCHER OF THE WEEK

        BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Arkansas Tech’s Dana Aldrich has been named the Gulf South Conference’s West Division Softball Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday by the league office.

Aldrich, a senior right-hander from Palm Harbor, Florida, earns this week’s honor after pitching a perfect game and going 2-2 overall at last weekend’s GSC Crossover Tournament in Decatur, Ala. The two wins helped Tech take over sole possession of the GSC West Division standings heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. It is the fifth time this season the GSC has named a Golden Sun as a the West Division Pitcher of the Week as sophomore Casey Hammons (Carthage, Texas) has been honored three times (Feb. 26, March 17 and March 25) and Aldrich was honored previously on Feb. 12 after tossing a perfect game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“I’m happy for Dana that she earned the Pitcher of the Week honor this week,” Golden Suns Head Coach Gidget Pambianchi said. “She has had a tremendous season for our team and really pitched well at last weekend’s GSC Crossover Tournament.”

Aldrich earns this week’s honor after going 2-2 with a 1.96 earned run average. In 25 innings of work, Aldrich allowed 25 hits, but just seven earned runs and struck out 25, while walking just four opposing hitters. In addition, she tossed three complete games in her five appearances and made four starts.

In Tech’s 8-0 win over West Georgia, Aldrich tossed her second perfect game of the season and just the second perfect game in Tech history as she struck out six in five innings of work. Against West Florida, Aldrich pitched eight innings and allowed just six hits, while walking one and striking out 11 in the Golden Suns 1-0 victory.    

On the season, Aldrich has a 19-7 record and a team-best 1.93 ERA. In 163.1 innings of work, Aldrich has allowed 120 hits, 45 earned runs, while walking 22 and striking out a single-season school record 157 batters. In addition, she has made 33 appearances and 23 starts, while throwing 15 complete games and has had five shutouts and has also picked up five saves.

In addition to Aldrich, Delta State senior outfielder Brittany Tillery was named the West Division Player of the Week, while Valdosta State senior shortstop Alex Acosta and West Florida senior pitcher Taren Walton were named the GSC East Division Player and Pitcher of the Week respectively.

Aldrich and her Golden Sun teammates will return to action on Wednesday, April 16, when they travel to Monticello, Ark., to play Arkansas-Monticello (17-24 overall, 10-9 GSC) in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

 2008 GSC Softball Weekly Release

-- Tech Athletics --