March 24, 2008

Somerset, NJ - Sophomore Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV/McQueen) and freshman Heather Ochoa (Los Angeles, CA/Notre Dame) were named the Northeast Conference's "Pitcher and Rookie of the Week", respectively, this afternoon as announced by the conference office.

Eshelman rebounded from an injury after getting hurt on a collision while playing second base last week and turned in two beautifully-pitched shutouts in blanking Lafayette 11-0 (3/21) and Siena 4-0 (3/22). In those two complete game appearances the Reno native gave up a combined nine hits while only walking two and making batters hit a paltry average of .214 against her. In the March 22nd game against Siena she gave up only four hits while striking out four and walking no one in seven innings.

Freshman Heather Ochoa

Ochoa, a rookie right-handed hurler from southern California, earned three victories during the week while posting a 3.04 ERA and 17 strikeouts. She kept hitters to a .250 batting average against her including a relief appearance against Iona on 3/18 where she came solidifying the victory by giving up no runs and only one hit and five strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings. She also recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in a victory against Brown, 2-1, where she held the Ivy Leaguers to three hits without giving up an earned run.

She now holds an overall record of 4-3 on the year. For the freshman it was her first such conference honor while Eshelman (2-3) was chosen as the "Pitcher of the Week" two times last year while also being named the league's best rookie for a week three such times.