March 9, 2010

Rio's Smith wins first Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Week honor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- University of Rio Grande sophomore Anna Smith was named the Mid-South Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

The conference's weekly honor is the first of the season for Smith.

Smith pitched a one-hit shutout in the Redstorm's 8-0 win over Ohio State University Newark to earn the conference's pitcher of the week award.

The Ross, Ohio native, struck out six en route to winning her first game of the season. Smith carried the no-hitter into the fifth inning when OSU-Newark's Jess Spain spoiled the effort with a two- out single. Rio Grande ended the game in five due to the mercy rule. 

Rio Grande head coach David Pyles was pleased for Smith and says she has picked up where she left off in 2009. "It looks like she's continued from where she left off last year. Hopefully, she can continue to be the dominating pitcher that she is because we're going to need her, not only early in the season, but all the way down the stretch," he said. 

Pyles said that the one hit given up by Smith on Sunday was a legitimate base hit and added that Smith was fortunate that she wasn't injured by the vicious line drive. "The hit that they had, fortunately it didn't hurt her because it was a legit hit right back up the middle and Anna was able to get a glove on it to protect herself," Pyles said. "In a one-hitter like that, you're hoping that it is a legit hit and not one of those border line, was it, was it not, but it was well-pitched ball game and we had some good defensive plays behind her."

Rio Grande finished its first week of competition with a 2-0 record.   The RedStorm begin Mid-South Conference play on Tuesday versus West Virginia Tech. The game will be played at Capital High School in Charleston, WV. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.