Patriot hurlers earn weekly PBC Softball honors

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University junior southpaw Michaela Wolf and freshman right-hander Lauren Bubeck have been selected as the Peach Belt Conference women’s softball “Pitcher of the Week” and “Freshman of the Week” respectively, for the week of Feb. 9-15.

Wolf, a native of Littleton, Colo., won both her starts last week, while allowing only four hits and one unearned run in 14 innings. He struck out 11 batters and walked only two. She blanked Tusculum College 5-0 on one hit and beat Limestone College 2-1 on the road.

At the plate, she also batted .375 last week.

For the season, Wolf is 5-0 with a 0.42 earned run average. She has fanned 28 batters in 33 innings and allowed only 17 hits and three walks.

Last season, Wolf became the first Patriot hurler to win 20 games twice in a career -- after posting a 21-10 mark as a freshman and going 29-13 as a sophomore -- and set school season records for strikeouts, innings pitched, appearances, games started, complete games, and shutouts.
Bubeck, a native of Tequesta, Fla., won her only start last week, blanking Limestone 2-0 with a six-hitter. In that contest, she struck out one and walked no one. At the plate, she went 1-for-2.

She is 2-0 on the young season and has yet to allow an earned run as a collegiate pitcher.
Francis Marion was to have opened Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday at UNC Pembroke, but that doubleheader has been postponed due to the threat of rain. Francis Marion will play host to Mount Olive College for a twinbill on Saturday at noon.

FMU’s 9-0 start is the best mark since the 2003 squad won its opening 18 contests.

Wolf is a former two-time All-Conference performer at Columbine High School, while Bubeck was a four-time All-Conference pick at South Fork High School.


Michael G. Hawkins