Chargers' Erin Kapteyn receives second G-MAC Pitcher of the Week honor (April 10-17)
From April 17, 2023 post.
For the fifth time this season -- and the third straight week -- a pitcher from the Hillsdale College softball team has earned G-MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week honors, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Junior Erin Kapteyn was the recipient for the Chargers, the second time she's won the award in 2023 and the third of her career, after two dominant performances in conference play and four solid appearances this week.
Kapetyn was huge when she had to be for Hillsdale, helping the Chargers to a key 3-1 victory at Trevecca Nazarene on Friday that salvaged a split with the Trojans and keeps Hillsdale within a game of first place in the G-MAC standings with two weeks left in the regular season. The junior gave up just four hits and one earned run in a complete game effort, striking out seven batters and walking one while holding one of the top offenses in the G-MAC in check.
Kapteyn also pitched four shutout innings in a 10-0 run-rule victory over Kentucky Wesleyan the following day, and was solid in two relief efforts against Davenport to start the week on Monday, giving up no earned runs and striking out three in three innings of work.
While Hillsdale ace Joni Russell has been dominant, Kapteyn is making a strong case for herself as one of the G-MAC's best pitchers in her own right. The junior's 2.01 ERA is sixth-best in the G-MAC and the best of any game two starter in the conference, trailing only the top aces in the G-MAC by a slim margin. She also ranks top 10 in the G-MAC in opponent batting average (.221), wins (9), runs allowed (33) and earned runs allowed (25), while her four shutouts this season are tied for the fourth most by a G-MAC pitcher.
She's played a huge role in Hillsdale's 1.94 staff ERA, the second-best in the G-MAC, and a 1.15 staff ERA in G-MAC contests.
Kapteyn and the Chargers are in the thick of the G-MAC title race for the third consecutive year at 11-3 in league play, and have a crucial midweek doubleheader on Wednesday against fellow contender Northwood as both teams fight to stay in the race to the end.
Original source can be found here.