Watilo Chosen NWC Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior pitcher Alex Watilo (Jr., RHP, Newcastle, CA/Del Oro HS) has been named Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in the Bearcats' games against Whitworth University on April 16-17.

It is the third time this season that Watilo has been honored as the Student-Athlete of the Week. She previously was selected on March 1 and March 29.

Watilo was 2-0 during the week with two complete-game wins against NWC rival Whitworth University. She threw a seven-inning, three-hit shutout in the first game of the series, leading the Bearcats to a 5-0 win. All three hits in the shutout were singles.

In the third game of the four-game series, Watilo pitched all nine innings in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over the Pirates. She registered a season-high eight strikeouts in the win. The eight strikeouts also tied her career high.

During the two appearances, Watilo achieved a 1.75 earned run average and produced a total of 11 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched.

Watilo improved her season record to 15-4 and moved into second on Willamette's all-time list of career pitching victories with 38 wins. She is 38-11 (.776) overall during her career. She moved past Hayley Boston, who had 37 wins between 2000 and 2003. Nikki Franchi (2006-09) is the record holder with 50 victories.

The Bearcats are 19-17 overall, including 16-12 in the NWC. Willamette finished the regular season with a 16-7 record in the team's final 23 games.

Willamette took fourth place in the NWC regular season standings to qualify for the NWC Tournament, which will be played in McMinnville, Ore., on Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 12. The tournament, which will be hosted by Linfield College, will use a double-elimination format.

The Bearcats will open the tournament on Friday at 11 a.m. (PDT) against Linfield (38-2) which won the NWC championship with a 27-1 record. The Wildcats are ranked #1 in the nation in NCAA Division III. Also competing in the tournament are Pacific Lutheran University (29-11, 23-5 NWC), seeded #2, and Whitworth University (19-17, 17-11 NWC), seeded #3.