NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – For the fourth time this season, Mason's starting pitcher, Aly Rayle, was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced Monday afternoon.
The first time she was awarded Pitcher of the Week was back on February 28th; she was awarded a second time on March 20th, followed by her third one on March 27th.
Pitcher of the Week – Aly Rayle: 4 Appearances, 3 Starts, 3-0 W-L, 0.00 ERA, 12 H, 26 SO, 4 BB, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 SV 22.0 IP (Two complete game shutouts, one save)
This week, Aly Rayle appeared in four games, started in three and went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. She also recorded her first save of the season. All three starts were complete game wins; two of those wins were shutouts against Saint Joseph's over the weekend. The Herndon, Va., native struck out 26 batters and only allowed one unearned run (vs. GW on 4/12) in her 22 innings work
The graduate student starting pitcher started the week with a seven-strikeout complete game in the first game of the Revolutionary Rivalry series against George Washington on Wednesday, with the only run scored in Mason's 7-1 victory being an unearned run. Rayle would make an appearance again in the second game, this time as the team's seventh inning closer. In her one inning in relief, she struck out two batters and recorded her first save of the season, securing the Patriots' 5-2 victory.
Rayle would then pitch her first of two complete game shutouts over the weekend versus Saint Joseph's. During Saturday's 3-0 victory, Aly Rayle allowed only three hits and struck out nine Hawks.
The following day, during Game 1 of the Sunday doubleheader, Rayle took the circle again and pitched her second complete game shutout of the weekend, blanking Saint Joseph's 5-0. She struck out another eight Hawks and allowed zero walks.
The starting pitcher now has a 13-4 record with a 2.09 ERA, the lowest on the team. She now has 157 strikeouts on the season and is the third Patriot in Mason Softball history to break 150+ strikeouts in a single season. She is currently fourth all-time in single season strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Rayle (13-5, 2.09 ERA, 1 SV) and the Patriots (27-15, 13-4 A-10) will have a chance to rest, as they will not have a midweek game this week. The second-place Patriots will travel to Dayton the weekend of April 22 to face off against the top-ranked Flyers (26-13, 12-2 A-10) in a pivotal three-game conference series. Saturday's doubleheader will begin at noon. Sunday's series finale will begin at noon as well.
