VanVleet named IIAC Pitcher of the Week

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Simpson's Abbie VanVleet tossed three complete games and went a perfect 3-0 in the circle to lead the Storm to a 5-1 mark on the week, earning Iowa Conference Pitcher of the Week honors for the period ending Sunday, March 6, the league office announced Tuesday.

A senior from Indianola, Iowa, VanVleet takes home the sixth conference honor of her career and fourth as a pitcher after posting a 1.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts and just two walks. She held opponents to a .195 batting average in 21 innings of work.

VanVleet started Simpson's week at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. against Westminster (Pa.) on Friday, shutting out the Titans while holding them to three hits in a 1-0 win.

Maybe her best performance of the week came in a 4-2 win over Carroll (Wis.) on Saturday. She allowed just one earned run off three hits while striking out nine without a walk. Her nine strikeouts were one shy of tying a career-best. 

In Simpson's 3-2 win over 2015 NCAA Regional Qualifier, Trine, VanVleet allowed two earned runs and scattered nine hits with five strikeouts.

The Storm have won both IIAC Pitcher of the Week honors so far in 2016 as Riley Fisher earned the award a week ago. The duo makes up one of the best in the IIAC, ranking first and second in the league in wins. Fisher is 6-0 with a 2.28 ERA and a league-high 44 strikeouts while VanVleet is 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA and 28 strikeouts.

Following Monday's games, Simpson is 12-3 on the season and riding a six-game winning streak.