SCHAEFER RECEIVES PCSC PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS FOR THE THIRD TIME

3/31/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- For the third time this season, Sacramento State sophomore Megan Schaefer was the recipient of Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) Pitcher of the Week honors after the right-hander helped lead the Hornets to a 2-1, eight-inning victory over 12th-ranked Cal last week.

Schaefer also received the award on Feb. 17 and March 10 of this season. A Sacramento State pitcher has now received the award four times in the last seven weeks as freshman Shelby Voelz was awarded the honor on March 17.

In the Hornets’ only game last week (Tuesday, March 24), Schaefer allowed Cal just one run and six hits over 8.0 innings. In addition, she walked only two batters while striking out six in the 114-pitch effort. The Tigard, Ore., native stranded seven Cal runners on base, and her only blemish was a solo home run by Bernice Masaniai in the sixth inning.

Schaefer retired nine of the final 11 batters she faced over three innings, and the only extra base hit she allowed the entire game was the Masaniai home run. Offensively, she helped her own cause by going 2-for-3, including a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning that pushed the eventual winning run to second base.
       
The performance for Schaefer was her second longest outing of the season, and she improved to 5-3 this year while lowering her ERA to 2.88. She has allowed two earned runs or less in each of her last three starts, and has seven complete games and two shutouts in 12 starts this season.

Sacramento State (12-17) begins a busy week tomorrow when the team hosts Cal State Bakersfield for a doubleheader at noon. The Hornets then host a four-game series to open the PCSC schedule this weekend against San Diego. The two teams will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday at noon. Sacramento State is looking for its second consecutive PCSC championship.