Knapp Again Honored With Weekly MAC Award
5/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan's Rachael Knapp was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week for the seventh time this season on Monday.
Knapp, a senior from St. Joseph, went 3-0 last week with a 0.82 earned run average. She recorded 10 strikeouts in 17 innings. She opened the week by picking up the win with three innings of relief in a 6-2 nonconference victory over Michigan State.
Over the weekend, she threw a pair of three-hit complete games as the Chippewas swept a three-game MAC series from Ball State to guarantee themselves a share of the division title, their first since 2008. In the two games combined, she allowed two runs, walked three and struck out nine.
Knapp is 20-8 with a 1.30 earned run average. She is tied for the lead in the MAC with 20 wins and ranks second in ERA and in opponent batting average (.187). She leads the conference in both shutouts (10) and completed games (24).
The Chippewas, who are 34-13 overall and 16-5 in league play, can clinch the MAC West title with a win in any of their three games this weekend at Eastern Michigan. CMU holds a two-game lead over East-leading Ohio for the best record in conference play.
CMU's 34 wins ties the 2014 team for the most wins by a Chippewa squad since 2002, when CMU finished 39-16.
