April 7, 2003

BOCA RATON, FL -- For the second time this year and third time in her career, Florida Atlantic University's Candice Freel has been named the Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher-of-the-Week. The announcement was made Monday afternoon by the conference office after the sophomore pitcher went 3-0 in FAU's four games last week with a 0.38 ERA.

Freel had two complete-game victories while picking up a third win, in relief, as FAU went a perfect 4-0 last week. The Corvallis, OR, native allowed just one earned run in a 3-2 victory last Wednesday at Campbell. In the second game of that doubleheader, she came on in relief and picked up another win in FAU's 6-5, eight-inning, victory.

The next day, she allowed one unearned run in a 9-1 victory at Gardner-Webb. In her three appearances, she allowed one earned run on 12 hits in 18 and two-thirds innings of work.

Overall, Freel has won six of her last seven decisions and leads the team with a 13-7 record and a 1.50 ERA. As a team, FAU has won 11 of its past 14 games and is a perfect 6-0 in A-Sun play. The Lady Owls, the conference's only unbeaten team and a six-time defending champion, are off to their best start in the A-Sun since 2000.

Florida Atlantic next plays at Troy State Friday in Troy, AL. The doubleheader is the first of three in consecutive days on the road.