In just three appearances last week, Ball State softball's Carolyn Wilmes recorded a 0.93 ERA in 15 innings. She held opponents to a .185 batting average against her.
The right-handed pitcher was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week this afternoon for the first time in her career. Wilmes recorded 26 strikeouts in just 15 innings, including a career-high 10 strikeouts against Eastern Michigan last weekend.
Failing to give up any runs in her last 14 innings spent on the mound, Wilmes also only recorded two walks the past week.
Last week, she came in as a reliever against Northern Illinois. Although giving up a home run and base hit, Wilmes was able to recover by finishing with seven strikeouts in just three innings on the mound.
Improving to 12-9 on the season last Friday after picking up a win over the Eagles, Wilmes held Eastern Michigan to five hits and no runs in six complete innings. She earned her fourth complete shut out of the game, while finishing the game with nine strikeouts.
Closing out the second game of the day on Saturday against Eastern Michigan, Wilmes picked up a career-high 10 strikeouts in a single game, while also retiring the Eagles in order three times in the game with back-to-back strikeouts in the top of the sixth inning.
Sitting at a 10-1 record this season, Wilmes has been dominating the MAC with a 1.93 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched this season. While holding opponents to a .191 average, Wilmes has 70 strikeouts on the season. Out of her 10 wins this season, four of them have been complete-game shutouts.
Wilmes will close out the home portion of the Cardinal's 2017 season this weekend when they host Toledo on Friday at 3 p.m. before closing out the series on Saturday with a double-header starting at 1 p.m.