Martinez Pitches 2nd Perfect Game of the Season as Softball Eagles Split

April 17, 2008

Patchogue, NY – Every time Jennifer Martinez takes the mound for the St. Joseph’s Golden Eagles there is great potential to see something special happen and that it did once again Wednesday evening as she threw her second perfect game of the season in a 2-0 victory over Hunter College in game one of a doubleheader.

The performance marked the senior’s second perfect game of the season (the fourth of her career) and her third no-hitter this year (tenth career).  Along the way to the feat Martinez struck out 20 batters, one shy of the NCAA record which she set twice in the previous two seasons.

In the game one victory, senior Michelle Nardella provided the offensive punch for the team when she smacked a two-run homer over the head of the left fielder in the bottom of the third.  The blast was the first career dinger for the Eagles second baseman

The day ended bittersweet for St. Joseph’s, as they saw their eighteen game winning streak come to an end as they dropped game two, 2-0, to the Hawks.  The team is still undefeated (10-0) in Skyline play heading into this Saturday’s match-up with rival Mount Saint Mary.  Overall, Coach Sciangula’s squad is 21-3. 

Currently, Martinez is ranked number one in the NCAA Division III in earned run average and strikeouts.  She is the two-time reigning champion in each category.  Additionally she is ranked second in the nation in victories, hits allowed per seven innings and batting average. 

This past week, Jennifer was named Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Week marking the fourth occasion that she took home a weekly award in 2008.  On the season she has a 19-2 record with a 0.58 ERA and 298 strikeouts (an uncanny average of 2.3 per inning).

Current NCAA Statistical Rankings (as of 4/13/08)
Team
Earned Run Average - St. Joseph's-LI - #8 - 1.13
Won-Loss Percentage - St. Joseph's-LI - #9 - .909
Scoring - St. Joseph's-LI - #40 - 6.95
Individual
Earned Run Average - Jennifer Martinez - #1 - 0.57
Strikeouts per Seven Innings - Jennifer Martinez - #1 - 15.7
Victories - Jennifer Martinez - #2 - 18
Walks - Jennifer Martinez - #5 - 0.9
Hits Allowed per Seven Innings - Jennifer Martinez - #2 - 2.29
Batting Average - Jennifer Martinez - #2 - .585
Slugging Percentage - Jennifer Martinez - #4 - 1.019
Triples per Game - Jennifer Martinez - #29 - .19