LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Accolades continue to pour in after Maddie Penta's powerhouse performance as the sophomore was named Wilson/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday.
Penta is the first Tiger to win the national award, which was established in 2017. The Division I Player & Pitcher of Week awards are voted on by the NFCA's Division I Top 25 Committee, which consists of one head coach representing each of the 32 NCAA DI Conferences.
Yesterday, Penta was honored as the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Penta earned six victories over a five-day span as the sophomore tossed 25 of Auburn's 37 innings with starts in five of six games.
She allowed just one run in her six appearances for a 0.28 earned run average. She held opponents to a total of seven hits for a .086 average at the plate. Penta issued four walks while striking out a staggering 48 batters. The right-hander recorded double-digit strikeouts in three of her six outings.
The Chesapeake City, Maryland, native combined for two shutout performances. Alongside junior KK Dismukes, Penta combined to toss the program's 29th no-hitter in Auburn's 5-0 victory against North Carolina A&T on March 4.
Giving up a run to Chattanooga on Sunday, Penta's consecutive scoreless inning streak ended at 25.2 innings, which tied for the fifth longest streak in program history.
Picking up every win in the inaugural Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament, Penta was tabbed to the all-tournament team and was named the Jane B. Moore Memorial Most Valuable Player.
Penta is the only pitcher in the SEC with over 100 strikeouts this season as sophomore has already totaled a career-high 121, a mark that ranks second in the country. Penta also leads the SEC a tied for the national lead in victories with a perfect 13-0 record.
