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Alyssa Etheridge no-hitter earns GNAC player of the week

Posted at 2:55 PM, Mar 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-12 16:55:27-04

(MSUB Athletics release)

PORTLAND, Ore. – Alyssa Etheridge was named softball pitcher of the week by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Monday. Etheridge authored the first no-hitter in Montana State University Billings softball history, highlighting a doubleheader split against Saint Martin’s University Friday at Francis F. Logan Field.

The true freshman from Grants Pass, Oregon, struck out five batters, while walking seven and allowing one unearned run on an error in the 8-1 Game 2 win on Friday. It was the 26th no-hitter in GNAC history and the third in the conference this season.

“I was so excited that Alyssa received GNAC pitcher of the week,” commented MSUB head softball coach Jessica Rayman. “She threw great for us this weekend and this is well deserved. Not many pitchers can say they have thrown a no hitter as a freshman in college, so for her to do that was awesome. She has a lot of potential and I am very excited to see where she goes from here.”

MSUB has had 18 one-hitters in school history, including 16 individual efforts and a pair of combined one-hitters. The last player to throw a no-hitter in the GNAC was Western Washington University’s Makinlee Sellevold, who did it last Saturday in a 10-0, five-inning win over MSUB in Bellingham, Washington.

Following the no-hitter, Etheridge pitched well in her second start of the weekend Saturday. In a 2-0 loss to Saint Martin’s, she pitched a complete game (six innings) and allowed two earned runs on two hits, walked five, and struck out four.

Etheridge is the first MSU Billings softball player to earn player of the week this season. She leads the Yellowjackets with a 3.90 ERA and holds a 3-4 record. Etheridge has four complete games, 27 strikeouts, and 34 walks allowed. Opposing batters are hitting just .200 against her and has allowed 21 earned runs in 37.2 innings of work.

Montana State Billings (7-14, 1-7 GNAC) has the week off after a four-game home series was rescheduled due to poor field conditions anticipated in Billings. The Yellowjackets are expected to play five games in the Tournament of Champions March 29-31 in Turlock, California.