Newport News, Va. – Fordham softball senior
Makenzie McGrath has been named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week for the second time this year, the league announced Monday afternoon. That makes four weekly Pitcher awards for the program this season across three student-athletes.
"We're so happy for Mak as she continues to compete her heart out and give us a chance to win every time she's in the circle." Head coach
Melissa Inouye said, "It's a credit to her hard work, communication with our catchers, Amanda and Sydney, and knowing herself as a pitcher and what makes her successful."
McGrath was once against stellar in the circle for the Rams, making three appearances and two starts and walking away with 2-1 record despite not allowing a single earned run over 15.1 frames. The Dumont, N.J. native suffered a tough-luck loss in midweek at Army, allowing three third-inning unearned runs due to two errors behind her, both run-scoring hits coming with two outs. She was otherwise brilliant, allowing just one other hit and one walk while striking out eight total over six complete innings.
On Saturday, McGrath started game two of the three-game series at George Mason and worked around two more unearned runs in the fourth inning to otherwise twirl a complete game gem with seven more strikeouts, notching the victory in a 4-2 game. She then earned her eighth win of the campaign and 20
th for her career with a relief appearance in the series finale, holding the Patriots to just one hit and two walks over 2.1 frames as Fordham won, 5-4, in the ninth.
For the year, McGrath is 8-5 with a 2.25 ERA across 21 appearances and 12 starts, striking out a career-high 67 over 87 innings, including five starts in her last six with at least five strikeouts.
The Rams are back in action on Wednesday at Bahoshy Field against St. John's. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
