Milardo Tabbed GNAC Pitcher of the Week
WINTHROP, Mass. - Senior pitcher/outfielder and captain Alessandra Milardo (Plantsville, 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 7 report on Monday afternoon. It marks the second career GNAC Pitcher of the Week honor for Milardo and back-to-back weeks a USJ hurler has donned the honor.
Milardo was nearly unhittable as she didn't allow a single run and struck out an incredible 39 batters to help power the Blue Jays to a 6-2 week, including a perfect 4-0 record in GNAC play to conclude the regular season and earn the No. 3 seed in the upcoming postseason tournament. On the week, Milardo made five appearances inside the circle going 3-0 with a pair of saves. In 23 innings of work, the Plantsville product didn't allow a single run (0.00 ERA) and gave up only five hits while striking out 39 (11.87 K/7).
Milardo opened the week inside the circle at Lasell, firing a complete game one-hit shutout on Tuesday with nine strikeouts in what was a 1-0 USJ victory. She then came on in relief in game two and earned the save with one strikeout in a 3-1 win. The 5-5 right-handed hurler then followed that up by tossing a complete game, two-hit shutout and struck out a career-high 16 in game one on Friday at Rivier in an 8-0 win before coming on in relief in game two to strike out a pair more and earn the save in an 8-6 triumph. Milardo concluded the week twirling another complete game, two-hit gem on Sunday at Mitchell striking out 11.
Milardo is currently second in the GNAC with a miniscule 1.18 ERA, only behind fellow teammate junior Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.), who leads the league with an immaculate 0.16 ERA. Milardo also ended the regular season with 65 strikeouts, good for third amongst her GNAC counterparts.
UP NEXT
Milardo and the Blue Jays have earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament, and will host No. 6 Norwich University in the GNAC Softball Tournament Quarterfinals at home on the USJ Softball Field. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4. The tournament will follow an all-new single elimination format until the championship round which will be best 2-of-3.
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