Ritter Shares Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Recognition

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- The University of Michigan softball team had its second different pitcher of the season earn Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Week recognition today (Tuesday, March 8) as announced by the conference office. Junior Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) just completed one of the most amazing weeks ever by a Michigan pitcher, tossing two no-hitters and then matching her career best with a 15-strikeout performance vs. No. 15 Florida.

Ritter

Ritter finished the week 4-0 with a 0.81 earned run average and struck out 38 while allowing only six hits and four walks in 26.0 innings of work. The league honor is her first of the season and the second by a Wolverine pitcher after Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Sprague HS) gained recognition on Feb. 22. Ritter's honor is the second of her career after also being named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 20, 2004.

Ritter opened the week with her second career no-hitter when she tossed a complete-game, 4-0 win at No. 15 Florida (March 1) with seven strikeouts and no walks. The only Florida baserunner reached on a Michigan error. After a nine-strikeout, complete-game win over Central Florida (March 2), the junior tossed her second no-hitter of the week, striking out seven in a five-inning run-rule win (9-0) over South Florida (March 4).

Ritter finished the week with a 6-2 win over Florida but may have been at her most dominant while matching a career best with 15 strikeouts. Her 15 K's tied for the third-most in Michigan history, while her nine-strikeout effort earlier in the week against Central Florida made her just the fifth pitcher in Michigan history with more than 400 career punch-outs.

For the season, Ritter is now 9-0 with a team-best 86 strikeouts against just nine walks and a 0.97 ERA.

Currently ranked seventh in the NFCA/USA Today poll that will be updated tomorrow, the Wolverines moved up three spots to No. 5 in the latest ESPN.com/USA Softball top 25 which was released today.

Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423

University of Michigan Athletics

Ritter Shares Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Recognition

Players Mentioned

Jennie Ritter

Lorilyn Wilson

Related Videos