ST. LOUIS – Junior Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) of the Drake University softball team has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday, Feb. 13.
 
Newman compiled a 2-1 record with a 0.39 ERA and one save in four appearances and 18.0 innings of work with 35 strikeouts. She helped Drake to a 4-1 record in the 2017 season's opening weekend at the UNI-Dome Classic.
 
Newman started the season with a no-hitter in the 8-0 win over South Dakota State in five innings and struck out 13 Jackrabbits and allowed just two walks. She pitched in relief against Montana and earned the win by going 3.2 innings and allowed two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. Newman collected her first save in the win over Omaha with 1.1 innings of work and had three strikeouts. She closed the weekend with a tough extra-innings loss to Wisconsin after she pitched 8.0 innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits with 12 strikeouts.
 
Newman and her teammates travel to Tucson, Ariz., to play in the Wildcat Invitational hosted by the University of Arizona, where the Bulldogs will play six games over four days, Feb. 16-19. They start their trip with a game against Arizona on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.