WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Junior pitcher Lilly Fecho was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for her outstanding performances at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. The honor is the second of her career, alongside an April 15, 2013 effort.
Fecho had a hand in all four of Purdue's victories while dominating opponents in the circle, racking up 44 strikeouts in 23 innings of action, including a Purdue game-record 19 Ks against Florida Gulf Coast in a nine-inning complete-game victory on Friday (surpassing Diana LaRiva's mark of 17 from 3/27/04). The junior recorded an ERA of 0.60, surrendering just two earned runs on the weekend.
In her first action of the weekend, the junior came in to face the final batter against Oakland, with two runners on, two outs and the potential game-winner at the plate and promptly pitched issued a three-pitch strikeout to earn the save. Fecho carried the momentum into the rest of the weekend, finishing Day 1 with her record 19 strikeout effort against FGCU, while allowing just one earned run in the complete-game nine-inning win. On Saturday, the Carol Stream, Ill., native, issued 13 strikeouts in another complete-game victory against FGCU, while again allowing just one earned run. Fecho wrapped up the weekend with an 11-strikeout, complete-game three-hit shutout win over Bethune-Cookman.
All told, the junior tossed 44 strikeouts, nearly doubling her season tally to 91. With three complete-game efforts on the weekend, Fecho moved into a tie for fourth place on the Purdue career list (44).