
Ritchie Tabbed No. 35 Pitcher In The Nation By Fastpitch News
January 26, 2017 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Senior RHP Lydia Ritchie has earned some national preseason recognition as she was named the No. 35 pitcher in the country by Fastpitch News.
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Despite battling a nagging injury throughout the 2016 season, Ritchie compiled a 2.67 earned run average and 13-12 record over 173.1 innings pitched. She led the team in strikeouts (178), games started (31), complete games (13), complete-game shutouts (6) and opposing batting average (.219) while ranking third among American Athletic Conference pitchers in strikeouts, looking strikeouts, saves, appearances and games started, fourth in wins and innings pitched and fifth in opposing batting average.
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Ritchie enters the 2017 campaign 10th on the program career chart in strikeouts at 218. She struck out a career-high 13 batters in a 5-1 victory over IPFW to close out the Under Armour Invitational back on March 13. Ritchie produced a stellar performance in the home finale against Houston April 24, tossing a complete game shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out four batters. She also recorded the Pirates' biggest victory of the season, a 2-1 victory over No. 25 UCF in Orlando where she surrendered just one run on seven hits.
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East Carolina opens the season Feb. 10 when it takes on Syracuse and Winthrop on the first day of the Red and Black Showcase hosted by the University of Georgia.
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Despite battling a nagging injury throughout the 2016 season, Ritchie compiled a 2.67 earned run average and 13-12 record over 173.1 innings pitched. She led the team in strikeouts (178), games started (31), complete games (13), complete-game shutouts (6) and opposing batting average (.219) while ranking third among American Athletic Conference pitchers in strikeouts, looking strikeouts, saves, appearances and games started, fourth in wins and innings pitched and fifth in opposing batting average.
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Ritchie enters the 2017 campaign 10th on the program career chart in strikeouts at 218. She struck out a career-high 13 batters in a 5-1 victory over IPFW to close out the Under Armour Invitational back on March 13. Ritchie produced a stellar performance in the home finale against Houston April 24, tossing a complete game shutout while allowing just two hits and striking out four batters. She also recorded the Pirates' biggest victory of the season, a 2-1 victory over No. 25 UCF in Orlando where she surrendered just one run on seven hits.
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East Carolina opens the season Feb. 10 when it takes on Syracuse and Winthrop on the first day of the Red and Black Showcase hosted by the University of Georgia.
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