April 12, 2005

IOWA CITY - Senior Lisa Birocci has been named co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season. Birocci earned the honor for her record breaking performance last week.

Birocci became Iowa's all-time career strikeout leader last week at Northern Illinois, striking out seven of the 10 batters she faced in three innings of relief. She passed former Hawkeye all-American Kristi Hanks, who recorded 815 K's in her four-year career.

Birocci struck out nine to help the Hawkeyes gain a 3-2 win over Purdue in their conference home opener and threw a complete game, one-hit shutout while striking out 10 against Indiana. She leads the Big Ten in wins (19) and saves (4) and is third in strikeouts (181). Her career strikeout total stands at 839.

Iowa (32-9) hosts William Penn (23-11) Wednesday at 6 p.m