By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A dynamic weekend from inside the circle that saw sophomore Danielle Liberatore record a pair of complete-game shutouts, was more than enough for the Peotone, Ill. native to be recognized as the adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Liberatore was given the honor Monday afternoon after notching back-to-back shutout victories against in-state foe Tennessee State, leading the Tennessee Tech softball team to a series victory in the club's first OVC set of the year. The 5-foot-10 southpaw yielded just seven hits (all of them singles) in 11 combined innings on the slab, walking just two, and striking out an impressive 15 Tigers in the two outings.
The 15 punch outs gives Liberatore 96 in 81 innings of work this season, putting the sophomore hurler second in the OVC behind SIUE's Haley Chambers.
Liberatore has now won five starts in a row to push her overall record to 8-5, lowering her ERA to a club-best 2.16.
Winners of seven of the last nine, the Golden Eagles will hook up with Samford on Wednesday for a doubleheader. Game one is slated to begin at 2 p.m. CT.
Here's a look at the rest of the awards in the OVC this week:
Others Nominated: Taylor Moon, Belmont; Leanna Pittsenbarger, Eastern Kentucky; Taylor West, Jacksonville State; CheyAnne Gaskey, Murray State; Baylee Douglass, SIUE; Amber Galyon, Tennessee State
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Whitney Gillespie, DP/P, Fr., 5-7, Pelham, Ala. - Jacksonville State
Gillespie hit safely in all three games last week, starting with a double in her only at-bat in JSU's win at Georgia Tech. She went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader sweep of Cleveland State, homering three times in two games. She went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs in the 6-2 win in the first game versus CSU. In the nightcap, she hit a two-run home run and entered the game to pitch a perfect seventh to earn her third save of the year.
Others Nominated: Jordan Daly, Belmont; Amber Murray, Eastern Kentucky, Jessica Twaddle, Murray State; Alex McDavid, SIUE; Courtney Gearlds, Tennessee State; Hannah Eldridge, Tennessee Tech
