BURNSVILLE, Minn. – After recording three wins in four appearances last weekend, University of Sioux Falls Softball junior pitcher Courtney Mathews was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week in an announcement by the league today.

Mathews, who is 3-0 on the season, is the first USF Softball player to earn the NSIC weekly honor this year and third to receive the pitcher of the week distinction in school history. Overall, USF has had five players earned player of the week honors in the NSIC. They include position players Lindsey Mossman and Brooke Stetzler, who earned players of the week honors in 2017 and 2016, while Alyson Netty and Amanda Walters were NSIC pitchers of the week in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Mathews, a junior nursing major from Lee's Summit, Mo., had a standout performance in USF's 2019 season opening weekend as she went 3-0 while throwing two complete games. In a 2-1 eight inning (extra innings) win over Metro State on Saturday, Feb. 2. Mathews allowed eight hits but just one earned run with six strikeouts in going the distance. She also tossed a complete game in a 7-2 win over Colorado-Colorado Springs. Against UCCS, she allowed six hits with two earned runs and six strikeouts over seven innings.

In four appearances, including two starts, Mathews has compiled a 1.69 earned run average, a 1.29 WHIP, and held opponents to a .253 batting average. She has allowed 21 hits and five earned runs with 17 strikeouts across 20.2 innings.

USF Softball, which opened with a 4-1 record in games against Metro State and Colorado-Colorado Springs on Feb. 1-3, is idle until competing at the Emporia State Tournament on Feb. 22-24. USF will face Emporia State on Feb. 22 at 10 am. USF will then turn around and face Missouri Southern State on Feb. 22 at 2 p.m.