ST. LOUIS – Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) of the Drake University softball team is the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, the MVC office announced Monday, Feb. 25.
 
In the circle this past weekend, Newman went 2-0 with one save and a 1.29 ERA in 14.0 innings with 22 strikeouts helping Drake go 5-0 at the Razorback Invitational. She became Drake's all-time wins leader at 67 with her first win in the tournament. Newman pitched five innings and allowed one run on five hits with eight strikeouts against SEMO. In her next victory over No. 12 Arkansas, she tossed a complete game with 11 strikeouts and just two walks. During the weekend, she also pitched 2.0 innings of scoreless relief and earned her second save in the Bulldogs' second win over SEMO.
 
This season, Newman is 4-2 with a 0.86 ERA and a league-best 75 strikeouts. She has won MVC Pitcher of the Week honors 12 times in her outstanding career.
 
Newman and her teammates travel to Tucson, Ariz. to face No. 14 Arizona Thursday night at 7 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs will then play in the Wildcat Invitational, March 1-3, where they will play Arizona again, James Madison, Minnesota twice and Kent State.