Central Michigan University Athletics
Puchalski, Davis Earn CMU's Scholar Athlete of the Week
March 29, 2004
Central Michigan University has selected Amber Puchalski (softball) and Jeff Davis (men's track) as CMU Scholar-Athletes of the Week. Candidates for CMU Scholar-Athletes of the Week must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and are selected based on athletic performance the previous week.Here are this week's honorees and their credentials:
Amber Puchalski
Softball
Pitcher
Senior
Corona, Calif./Canyon Springs HS
3.09 GPA
Child development major
Puchalski went 2-0 last week with a 0.32 ERA and a mere .074 opponent batting average. She threw a no-hitter against Akron in game three of the weekend series and tossed all 15 innings of game one's marathon contest. Puchalski did not allow a hit in the final seven innings of game one and then threw the no-hitter in game two giving her a string of 14 straight hitless innings pitched. She allowed the only run of the weekend in the first inning of game one and then fired 21 straight scoreless innings. In the 22.0 innings, she gave up just five hits as Akron hit just .074 against her in the two games. She struck out 24 batters to close within 20 K's of tying the MAC career record of 842 set by former Toledo pitcher Tami Johnston. She had a double-digit strikeout figure in both games. The no-hitter was the eighth of her career and her first this season.
 Jeff Davis  |
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Men's track and field
Distance
Senior
Temperance, Mich./Bedford High
3.16 GPA
Secondary education major
Jeff Davis led a group of Chippewas that competed in the prestigious Stanford Invitational on Friday and Saturday by taking first in the steeplechase and setting a school record. Davis captured victory in the 3,000m steeplechase with a school-record time of 8:43.21. That mark would have been good enough to qualify him for the NCAA Championship in 2003 and should be enough to qualify him for this year's meet. He broke his own school record of 8:57.20 that he set last season. Davis was one of five CMU athletes competing in the meet.