GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - - The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference office announced today that Madonna senior left-hander Liz Ballinger was selected as the WHAC’s Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 6. This marks the second straight week a MU hurler has been the league’s award winner.

Ballinger is also the NAIA Region VIII Pitcher of the Week.

Ballinger (St. Johns, Mich.) went a perfect 3-0 last week in three appearances in the circle for Madonna. She posted a 1.65 earned run average in 17 innings of work, picking up wins against UM-Dearborn (14-1), Siena Heights (15-4) and Aquinas (8-0). Ballinger allowed just three hits against both UMD and Aquinas in two of her wins.

Ballinger joins Jess Irwin (Monroe, Mich.) as Crusaders who have been selected the WHAC’s Pitcher of the Week as Irwin was tabbed last week.

The Crusaders, riding a five-game winning streak, return to action on Tuesday in a double header at NCAA Division II foe Saginaw Valley State in a 3:30 pm first pitch.