Juarez Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The wins, strikeouts and school records came in bunches last week for Ohio State senior Jamee Juarez, who was honored by the Big Ten Monday as the league’s softball pitcher of the week. It marks the second time Juarez (La Puente, Calif./Wilson) has received the honor in her career, which stands among the best in school history.
In four appearances last week, Juarez went 4-0 with a 0.97 earned run average, 46 strikeouts and only one walk in 21.2 innings pitched and threw a perfect game and a shutout. The Buckeyes (27-15, 8-2 Big Ten) went 3-1 on the road in the Big Ten and Juarez earned the win in all victories as Ohio State remained tied for first with eighth-ranked Michigan atop the league standings.
Juarez also set two Ohio State career records during the week, first for innings pitched (692.1) and then for victories (68). She upstaged her innings pitched record Wednesday when she broke the record while tossing her first collegiate perfect game as the Buckeyes beat IUPUI, 13-0. Juarez had 12 strikeouts in what was her third career no-hitter.
Juarez then entered the Big Ten road trip with 65 career wins, which were two shy of the school record held by Katie Chain with 67 wins from 2000-03. Juarez notched win No. 66 with 3.2 innings of relief Friday night at Illinois that included 11 strikeouts in 12 at bats as the Buckeyes won 7-6. Win No. 67 came Saturday at Illinois with 11 more strikeouts in 6.0 innings of a 4-3 victory in which she also hit the game-winning home run. Her school-record 68th win came Sunday with a 12-strikeout, complete game shutout at Iowa, 1-0.
In the Ohio State career record book, Juarez ranks first in wins (68) and innings pitched (692.1), second in strikeouts (672, 30 shy of record), second in shutouts (24, two shy of record) and third in complete games (61). With 25 wins as a sophomore in 2005, Juarez set Ohio State’s single-season wins record.
In Big Ten games this spring, Juarez is 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA, 54 strikeouts and only five walks in 36.0 innings pitched. Overall, Juarez is 13-8 with a 1.81 ERA and 165 strikeouts and only 22 walks in 131.2 innings. She is 10-1 in her last 11 decisions.
Juarez has also been one of Ohio State’s biggest offensive threats, as well. Her 115 career runs batted in rank third in school history. In the circle, she is 68-41 in her career with a 2.03 ERA, while at the plate, she is a career .302 hitter with 37 doubles and 12 home runs.
### GO BUCKS! ###
