Academy of Art University Athletics

Freshman pitcher Hannah Rose Balke (4-2) was a major contributor during ART U Softball's 5-3 week that featured a sweep of Northwest Nazarene plus wins over Lincoln Memorial, Fort Lewis, and University of Mary. Balke won three of her four starts while posting a 2.59 ERA across 31.1 innings pitched with 18 strikeouts.

The Oak Park, Calif. native started by tossing one of three complete games against NNU on Feb. 13, going 7.0 innings while allowing just one run on three hits with a season-high eight strikeouts. After spinning another 7.0 innings of one-run ball against LMU on Feb. 17, she allowed just one unearned run in her 12.2 innings of work in two games on Feb. 19 versus Mary.

Balke now ranks third in the Pacific West Conference in strikeouts (21), tied for second in complete games (3), tied for third in wins (4), and is top 10 in batting average against (.240).