Feb. 23, 2009
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IOWA CITY – University of Iowa senior Brittany Weil has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for her efforts in last weekend’s K-Club Classic, hosted by Kennesaw State University. This is the sixth time Weil has received the honor and the first time this season.
Weil became just the second player in Iowa school history to throw two no-hitters in a single season. She tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Kennesaw State while striking out 12 of the 19 batters she faced. Only four Owl runners reached base (one walk, two HBP, one fielding error). She joins former Hawkeye all-American Debbie Bilbao (1997) as the only pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season. Weil tossed her first career no-hitter against Kent State Feb. 13.
The Garden Grove, CA, native was one strike away from a perfect game the previous day against Miami (OH). Weil took a perfect game through 6.2 innings, but gave up a slow-rolling single with a two-strike count and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. She retired the first 20 batters before giving up the lone hit. She struck out 13 against Miami, OH, moving into second place on Iowa’s all-time strikeout list with 822 K’s. She is 124 strikeouts behind career leader Lisa Birroci.
Weil threw her sixth complete game and fourth shutout of the season against Memphis. She allowed one hit, which was to the first batter of the game, then retired the next 15 batters. She also struck out nine.
Weil threw 1.2 innings in relief against Buffalo and struck out five of the seven batters she faced. She also struck out two of the three batters she faced in one inning of relief against Drexel.
For the weekend, Weil threw 19.2 innings of shutout softball, with five appearances. She started three games and threw complete game shutouts in all three starts. Weil struck out 41 of the 68 batters she faced, allowing only eight to reach base.
Weil has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week more than any other player to pitch at Iowa. Last season, Weil became the first Iowa player to garner the award four times in a single season.
Iowa is currently on a six-game winning streak and has shutout all six opponents during the streak. The Hawkeye pitching staff has not allowed a run in 37-straight innings, which is the second-longest streak for Iowa since 2004 (46 innings).
The Hawkeyes will take this weekend off from competition before traveling to California to compete in the Long Beach Tournament March 6-7.