Amato Named GNAC Pitcher of the Week
WINTHROP, Mass. - Junior starting pitcher Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) softball team dominated inside the circle this past week and was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Pitcher of the Week, it was announced by the conference front office in its Week 6 report on Monday afternoon. It marks the first career GNAC weekly honor for Amato.
Amato toed the rubber for 21 innings inside the circle for USJ without allowing an earned run to post a spotless 0.00 ERA this past week, and secured all three of the Blue Jays' wins (3-0) in a 3-3 week. Amato dominated the competition in her three starts tossing three complete game gems, striking out 19 (6.33 k/7) and allowed just one run (0 ER) on 12 hits with five walks.
After surrendering a solo home run to the very first batter she faced in the 2021 season opener back on March 27, Amato has not given up an earned run since, running her consecutive innings pitched streak to 34 without conceding an earned run. She currently leads the GNAC and is tied for fifth in the nation in ERA with a minuscule 0.20 ERA.
The 5-foot-8 right-handed junior from Cheshire opened this past week firing a three-hitter versus Albertus Magnus, striking out five in a 6-0 USJ victory on Tuesday at home. She then went to Johnson & Wales and whiffed seven on Thursday in an 8-1 triumph over the Wildcats before coming back home on Saturday to baffle Albertus Magnus once again, fanning seven in another complete game three-hitter and 4-0 USJ win.
UP NEXT
Amato and the Blue Jays will look to keep things rolling when they get back between the lines next at Lasell University on Tuesday, April 27 at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. respectively in GNAC doubleheader softball action.
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