By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University first-year pitcher Ashley Medina (San Ysidro, CA/Otay Ranch HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week for her first two games in the circle as a Bearcat. She pitched against Warner Pacific University on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and threw versus Northwest Christian University on Sunday, Feb. 16. She went 1-1 with a 2.33 earned run average.

Medina registered 11 strikeouts in 12 innings. During a 3-2 loss at Warner Pacific, she threw the first five innings and recorded four strikeouts, while allowing three runs, six hits and a walk. In Willamette's 7-1 at Northwest Christian, she threw a complete-game three-hitter with seven strikeouts and only two walks.

"Ashley has a bright future ahead of her. She has great command in the circle and definitely does not pitch like a first-year college player. She understands the game and knows how to set up hitters. I am excited for her career at Willamette and I am very proud of her."
— Willamette Head Coach Paige Hall

Willamette finished the week with a 1-2 overall record before falling to WPU in two games at the Rex Putnam High School Field in Milwaukie, Oregon, on Monday, Feb. 17. The Bearcats will play again on Saturday, Feb. 29, when they are scheduled to host Pacific Lutheran University in a Northwest Conference doubleheader at the WU Softball Field starting at 12 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will take on the Lutes in two additional NWC games on Sunday, March 1, also at the WU Softball Field, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.