NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the fifth time this season and second consecutive week, redshirt junior was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week, it was announced Monday by the league.
Gillen finished 3-1 in the circle but won all three of her starts of the Rams, who went 4-1 during the week to creep within a half game of second place in the conference standings. The southpaw tossed 18.2 innings and allowed only three earned runs on 12 hits, walked five and fanned 23. She also tossed a pair of complete game shutouts over the weekend as well against Saint Joseph's, who came into the three-game series as the top-hitting team in the Atlantic 10.
The Wilmington, Del. native was also considered for Player of the Week after slashing .400/.467/1.067 with three home runs, nine RBI and four runs while striking out just once in 16 plate appearances. Gillen finished 6-for-14 with four extra base hits and extended her hitting streak to 16 games.
In the first game against St. Bonaventure last Wednesday, April 15, Gillen earned the victory after allowing two earned runs on five hits while walking none and striking out four over 5.0 innings of work. With the game tied at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, her two-run homer gave the Rams the lead for good, as they scored seven times to take a commanding 9-2 lead before winning 10-2. She also drove home two more runs later in the inning with a two-run single to cap the scoring. At the dish, Gillen finished 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and one run.
In the series opener against SJU, Gillen limited the Hawks to just three hits over 5.0 innings, as the Rams won 8-0 in five innings. She also did not issue a walk and struck out 10 to give her double-digit strikeouts for the seventh time this season. At the plate, Gillen finished 1-for-3 with a RBI double and a run scored.
Gillen provided the game-winning hit in the second game with her two-run homer in the bottom of the third that broke a scoreless tie, as the Rams would once again win in five innings, 8-0. She finished 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI while walking once.
Gillen then pitched a fabulous game in the series finale against SJU with two-hit complete-game shutout, as she walked three and fanned eight in the 4-0 victory. With the Rams leading 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, she was able to extend her hit streak to 16 with an opposite field two-run homer.
Fordham returns to action this Wednesday, April 22 when it travels to Hempstead, N.Y. to meet Hofstra for a single contest starting at 3 p.m. The game was originally slated for 4 p.m.
