NFCA RELEASE

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Concordia’s freshman pitcher Callie Nunes received more recognition on Wednesday morning, being named the first 2018 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Pitcher of the Week award.

Nunes was also named the PacWest Pitcher of the Week and was selected to the Desert Stinger all-tournament team. While helping Concordia to a 4-1 record in the opening weekend of the 2018 season, the freshman allowed just one run in 13.2 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts, tallying two wins and two saves.

Ryann Ferguson, the PacWest Player of the Week, was listed among the selected top performances in NCAA Division II for the week. Ferguson had 12 hits in 18 at bats, including three doubles and four home runs for 10 RBIs and five runs.

Nunes had a memorable collegiate debut, entering in the seventh inning against Cal State Dominguez Hills. She needed only 18 pitches to strike out the side in four batters to secure the 7-5 victory and earn a save.

The next day, the freshman threw a no-hitter against Western Oregon, whose offense averaged eight runs per game in the rest of the tournament. Nunes retired eight batters on strikes and only walked two batters in the 12-0 victory in five innings.

On Sunday, Nunes had double duty, pitching in both of the Eagles wins. She entered the first game of the day against Western Washington right after a two-run home run made it a one-run game with one out in the top of the seventh inning. She only needed to face to batters to conclude the game, getting them both to go down swinging for her second save of the tournament.

Concordia faced preseason CCAA favorite Cal State Monterey Bay in the tournament finale, where head coach Crystal Rosenthal called on Nunes to make her fourth appearance. Nunes tossed her second complete game of the tournament, allowing just one run on a solo shot in the sixth inning. She struck out eight batters and stranded the potential tying run at first base in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-1 victory.

The Eagles will return to action on Friday at the Dixie State Tournament, opening action at 3 p.m. (Mountain) against UC Colorado Springs. PacWest play will begin on February 24 with a road trip to St. George, Utah to play against Dixie State.