GCU’s Kirsten Linert chosen NFCA D-II Pitcher of the Week; HPU remains 5th in National Poll

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Grand Canyon junior hurler Kirsten Linert (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O’Connor) has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Pitcher of the Week for games played Feb. 28 - March 6.

The NFCA released the honor, along with its Top 25 Poll, on March 9 from its offices in Starkville, Miss.

Linert, who earned PacWest Pitcher of the Week honors on March 7, posted a 3-0 week with three shutouts as the Antelopes played six games in Hawai’i. She finished the week with a 0.00 ERA, 23 strikeouts and an opponent’s batting average of .127, all while allowing just nine hits, five walks and no runs.

The Phoenix native tossed a one-hitter against BYU-Hawaii on March 3, finishing the game by striking out 12 of the 22 batters she faced. On March 1, Linert tossed a four-hit, complete-game shutout to help lead Grand Canyon to a 1-0 victory over fifth-ranked Hawai‘i Pacific.

The Antelopes recorded a 4-2 week and wrapped up their eight-game trip to Hawai‘i by going 5-3 to open PacWest Conference play.

HPU, meanwhile, maintained its fifth-place ranking in the national poll after splitting its lone doubleheader of the week vs. Grand Canyon. The Sea Warriors won the first game on March 1 by the score of 7-0.

The Sea Warriors now are 11-3 overall and 3-1 in PacWest league play. 

The NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA Division II regions.