Natalia Puchino Named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
2/19/2024 3:30:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton softball's Natalia Puchino earned BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors after guiding the Bluejays to a perfect 3-0 record last week at the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Fla.
Puchino is the first Bluejays pitcher to secure BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors since Mikayla Santa Cruz earned the honor on Feb. 14, 2022. This week's accolade marks the second BIG EAST weekly honor for Puchino in her career, as she earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors once last season.
The Milliken, Colo. native was dominant in the circle for the Bluejays last week. The sophomore right hander posted a 1-0 record and two saves in 11.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts while limiting her opponents to just four hits and three walks in her three appearances.
Puchino got things going early, opening the Hatter Classic with two hitless frames while recording three strikeouts to pick up her first save of the season in a 2-0 win over Bethune-Cookman on Friday morning.
She followed that performance by firing a four hit complete game shutout with five strikeouts and no walks in the Bluejays' 2-0 win over Stetson for her third win of the season.
Puchino would then close out the Hatter Classic with a save by tossing the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit while striking out three in the Jays 3-2 victory over Colgate on Saturday.
Overall, Puchino leads the BIG EAST with a 0.34 ERA, allowing just one run in 20.1 innings pitched. She also ranks second in the BIG EAST with 24 total strikeouts.
Puchino and the Creighton softball team will return to action this Friday when they take on Nevada at 2:15 p.m. in the first game of the Libby Matson Tournament, hosted by Pacific, in Stockton, Calif.
Puchino is the first Bluejays pitcher to secure BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week honors since Mikayla Santa Cruz earned the honor on Feb. 14, 2022. This week's accolade marks the second BIG EAST weekly honor for Puchino in her career, as she earned BIG EAST Freshman of the Week honors once last season.
The Milliken, Colo. native was dominant in the circle for the Bluejays last week. The sophomore right hander posted a 1-0 record and two saves in 11.1 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts while limiting her opponents to just four hits and three walks in her three appearances.
Puchino got things going early, opening the Hatter Classic with two hitless frames while recording three strikeouts to pick up her first save of the season in a 2-0 win over Bethune-Cookman on Friday morning.
She followed that performance by firing a four hit complete game shutout with five strikeouts and no walks in the Bluejays' 2-0 win over Stetson for her third win of the season.
Puchino would then close out the Hatter Classic with a save by tossing the final 2.1 innings without allowing a hit while striking out three in the Jays 3-2 victory over Colgate on Saturday.
Overall, Puchino leads the BIG EAST with a 0.34 ERA, allowing just one run in 20.1 innings pitched. She also ranks second in the BIG EAST with 24 total strikeouts.
Puchino and the Creighton softball team will return to action this Friday when they take on Nevada at 2:15 p.m. in the first game of the Libby Matson Tournament, hosted by Pacific, in Stockton, Calif.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballCreighton Softball Hit-A-Thon 2025
Thursday, August 21
Creighton Baseball & Softball Fields Groundbreaking - 6/11/25
Wednesday, June 11
Creighton BET Postgame vs. St John's, 5/8/25
Thursday, May 08
Creighton Softball Highlights vs. Seton Hall, 5/4/25
Sunday, May 04
