Emory University junior Madison Schaefer (Newtown, MA) has been selected by the University Athletic Association as Softball Pitcher of the Week for her production in three complete games in the circle for the Eagles this past week. It is the second time that the left-handed pitcher has earned the honor in her career and is her first selection this season.
Schaefer made three starts last week, going 2-1 and striking out 20 batters in her 20 innings of work. The lefty broke her previous personal-record of strikeouts in one game on Tuesday, Mar. 3rd, when she led Emory to a 7-0 victory by punching out 10 batters. She spread eight hits across seven innings and did not issue a walk to shut out the Covenant Scots, marking her first complete-game shutout of the year.
The Newtown native would go on to pitch all seven innings versus Saint Benedict in Tucson, AZ in the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Friday, Mar. 6th, getting her third complete-game triumph of the season. In that matchup, Schaefer allowed one earned run on five hits and did not walk a Bennie, while tallying six strikeouts. Schaefer's effort helped the Eagles edge St. Benedict, 6-2.
On Saturday, the senior tangled with No. 4 East Texas Baptist University, a team that remains undefeated through 10 games. The Tigers struck out four times and only drew a single base on balls in six innings against Schaefer, but managed to total eight runs on thirteen hits, defeating Emory, 8-5.
In five starts, Schaefer owns a 3-3 record to go with a 3.80 ERA, and has totaled 27 strikeouts in 35 innings in the circle. She has exhibited an ability to consistently pound the strike zone, as she only has three walks all season. Schaefer will lead her squad by taking the rubber again tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. EST, when Emory takes on top-ranked Texas Lutheran, the team that the Eagles fell to in the 2019 National Championship Final. Following the rematch, Emory will play Dickinson at 2:00 p.m. to close out the Eagles' Arizona road trip.