April 7, 2009

Freshman left-hander Whitney Canion was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season the league office announced Tuesday. It marks the first time in Lady Bear softball history that a Baylor player has won the award four times in a single season and ties Joni Miller for the most all-time pitcher of the week wins.

"She continues to show how special she can be" head coach Glenn Moore said. "I still think she still has plenty of work left, but her potential seems endless."

Canion had four starts in five appearances and went 3-1 last week, including a save. The freshman struck out 36 batters through 31.2 innings of work, allowing one earned run and six walks to throw an ERA of 0.22. She picked up a complete-game shutout win over No. 11 Oklahoma, the first shutout for Baylor in series history with OU. Canion also posted a pair of wins over Oklahoma State, allowing no earned runs over 16 innings, including a 15 strikeout performance in an extra inning win on Saturday. Canion tied Baylor's single-season strikeout record with 264, needing just one to break the all-time mark.

Canion and the Lady Bears will return to Getterman Stadium tonight to face Texas State at 6:30 p.m.