University of Houston Athletics
Crabtree Enters Weekend as the NCAA Strikeouts Leader
4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2011
HOUSTON - University of Houston senior pitcher Amanda Crabtree will continue her career year against Tulsa this weekend as the NCAA Division I leader in strikeouts per seven innings, according to the latest statistics released this week.
Crabtree (16-7) has been atop the Conference USA standings throughout the season, but this week marks the first that the Kingwood, Texas native, leads the nation in strikeouts per seven innings. Prior to the Cougars' doubleheader against No. 15 Baylor, Crabtree was averaging 12.2 strikeouts per seven innings - the best among all NCAA Division I softball pitchers.
After the NCAA released the updated numbers, Crabtree raised her national best average by racking up 13 strikeouts in two appearances against Baylor. She threw her eighth complete game shutout to earn the win in the first game of the doubleheader, striking out 10 in the Cougars' five-inning run rule.
The senior right-hander then struck out three more in two innings of relief in the nightcap against the Bears to bring her season total to 267 strikeouts in 152.2 innings of work for an improved 12.3 strikeouts per seven inning mark.
Crabtree doesn't stop there. Aside from strikeouts per seven, the senior leader also leads the nation in fewest hits allowed per game. Prior to facing Baylor, Crabtree had allowed just 52 hits in 145.7 innings in the circle, good for a mere 2.5 hits per seven innings. She surrendered just five hits in her back-to-back appearances against Baylor to bring her current hits per seven to 2.6.
On Monday, Crabtree earned her conference-leading fourth C-USA Pitcher of the Week honor this season. She enters the weekend leading the league in strikeouts (267) and opposing batting average (.114).
UP NEXT
Crabtree and the Cougars will play host to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in a three-game C-USA series at Cougar Softball Stadium, April 16-17. The first game of the Saturday doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m., while the series finale is slated for Sunday at noon.
Tulsa freshman Aimee Creger will face off against Crabtree this weekend. Creger ranks second only to Crabtree in the NCAA in hits allowed per seven innings.
