March 17, 2009
EAST STROUDSBURG - Senior pitcher Jennifer Bensinger has been named the ABC Trophy, Inc. Athlete of the Week at East Stroudsburg University after throwing a no-hitter in a 3-0 win at Goldey-Beacom last Wednesday.
Bensinger (Tamaqua/Tamaqua) struck out 14 batters over seven innings while recording the first no-hitter for the ESU softball program since the 1990 season. She also won her start against Glenville State on Friday and had a 2.80 earned run average with 23 strikeouts in 15.0 innings for the week.
Bensinger had a streak of 17 scoreless innings snapped in the fifth inning of the Warriors' 9-1 win at Glenville State. She threw the first six innings of a 3-0 shutout at Pfeiffer on March 7, then followed up with her no-hitter at Goldey-Beacom.
Claire Hoherchak and Elaine Bedell combined on the Warriors' last no-hitter, a 9-0 victory against Williams during the 1990 season. The ESU record book mentions one no-hit game, thrown by Lynn Kuchinskas against South Carolina in 1976.
In 2000, Tina Morak had a streak of 10.2 innings without giving up a hit. She went the final seven innings of a 1-1, 16-inning tie against West Chester, then no-hit Shippensburg for the first 3.2 innings of her next start.
Bensinger's hitless streak was 9.1 innings - the final inning of her start against Pfeiffer, seven innings at Goldey-Beacom, and 1.1 innings at Glenville State.
ESU, which is off to an 8-5 start, hosts Mercy College in its home opener on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Zimbar Field. The Warriors open their PSAC East schedule on Saturday at West Chester.
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