Amato Tabbed GNAC Softball Co-Pitcher Of The Week
WINTHROP, Mass. - Senior pitcher Natalie Amato (Cheshire, Conn.) of the University of Saint Joseph softball team was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Co-Pitcher of the Week, it was announced on Monday afternoon by the conference front office in its eighth weekly report of the 2022 season. It marks the second career GNAC Pitcher of the Week award for Amato and the first conference weekly honor for the USJ softball team this season.
In a crucial 7-1 overall week for USJ, including a perfect 6-0 mark in GNAC play, Amato was flat-out dominant inside the circle for the Blue Jays. Across three starts for the right-handed hurler, Amato tossed 16.0 innings and amassed 33 strikeouts (14.44 K/7), allowing just two runs (1 ER) to post a miniscule 0.44 ERA. She allowed just six hits and walked two for a 0.50 WHIP this past week, while sporting a 2-0 record with two complete-game victories.
Amato registered 10-plus strikeouts in all three of her starts this past week. The Cheshire product opened the week allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks and fanned 10 in four innings of work in game two at Anna Maria on Monday, which the Blue Jays won in eight innings, 9-8. She followed that up by not allowing an earned run the rest of the week. On Saturday in game two versus Regis, Amato spun seven innings, yielded three hits, and struck out 10 in a 5-1 USJ victory. The 5-8 senior then concluded the week with possibly the best outing of her career, striking out a career-high 13 batters and tossing a one-hitter in five innings of work in an 8-0 complete-game triumph in game one versus Norwich on Senior Day Sunday. Of a possible 15 outs in the game against the Cadets, 13 came via an Amato punch out.
Entering the final week of the 2022 regular season, Amato currently ranks second in the GNAC in ERA with a mark of 1.97. She is also currently fifth in the league in strikeouts with 86 in just 49.2 innings pitched (12.12 K/7) on the year and is holding opponents to a .171 batting average against, which is currently the best mark amongst her conference counterparts.
UP NEXT
The Blue Jays return home for their final home game of the season, a single-game non-conference matchup versus the Cardinals of Wesleyan University. The action starts on Wednesday, April 27 at 4:30 p.m. at the USJ Softball Field. Fans who can't make it can head over to www.usjbluejays.com to keep up with all the action live.
Follow USJ Athletics
For the latest on University of Saint Joseph athletics, follow the Blue Jays on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Fans can also download the USJ Front Row Mobile App and subscribe to our Newsletter and Text Alerts. #FearTheFlock #GoBlueJays