MIAC SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg College softball pitcher Kylee Persing (JR, Mound, Minn./Mound-Westonka HS) was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, it was announced on Monday.

Persing claimed the first Pitcher of the Week award for the 2011 season for her strong pre-conference start to the year, leading the Auggies to a 9-7 record and a six-game winning streak. Seven of Augsburg's 16 games this season have been against teams ranked in the top 25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III national poll.

Pitching in a conference-high 78.2 innings in 15 games (13 starts), Persing has an 8-5 record (the most wins among MIAC pitchers), 2.85 earned-run average, and 42 strikeouts against just 29 walks. Her ERA is currently second-best among MIAC pitchers, as is her 42 strikeouts. Her .274 opponent batting average is third-lowest among MIAC pitchers.

Persing claimed wins in her first three starts -- including a win over then-No. 15-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse, and pitched the last five victories in Augsburg's six-game winning streak at the Tucson (Ariz.) Invitational -- with another win over now No. 19-ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse. In her last five wins, Persing recorded 17 strikeouts against just nine walks, while allowing just six earned runs in 25.1 innings.

Augsburg returns to play on Thursday (3/31) at 4 p.m. with a rescheduled nonconference game against Northwestern-Roseville at Edor Nelson Field.