ANNVILLE, PA – Wilkes University softball junior Gracen Staunton (Kernersville, NC/Northwest Guilford) was selected the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office this morning.

Staunton had two outstanding outings in the circle last week to earn the award for the first time this season and for the third time in her career. She also won the award once as a freshman and once as a sophomore.

In two shutout starts last week, Staunton struck out 13 batters in 13.0 innings of work to help the Colonels to a 4-0 week. She faced the minimum of 18 batters through six innings of a 5-0 win over Marywood. Staunton allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out five batters to pick up the combined-shutout of the Pacers on Wednesday. She followed that the next day with a complete-game four-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Delaware Valley in conference action. Staunton walked just one and struck out eight batters against the Aggies.

The Colonels return to the field to close out the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader against Susquehanna at the Ralston Athletic Complex on Wednesday, April 24 at 5:00 p.m. before traveling to FDU-Florham on Saturday, April 27 for their final MAC Freedom doubleheader of the season.