Penn State softball junior pitcher Marly Laubach was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the period ended April 3.

The award marks the first of Laubach’s career and the first time a Penn State pitcher has garnered the honor since Lisa Akamine was named pitcher of the week, Mar. 28, 2011.

Laubach earned the decision in game one in Penn State’s three-game sweep of Michigan State, pitching all seven innings. The right-handed pitcher gave up just four hits against MSU and allowed only one earned run in the victory.

In game two against the Spartans, Laubach came on in relief in the top of the sixth inning to pitch two innings of shutout softball. The Northampton, Pa. native gave up two hits in the relief appearance and earned her second save of the 2016 season.

The junior pitcher capped off the week with a 0.78 ERA after giving up only two runs, one of which was earned, and six hits in nine innings of action.

Through late last week, Laubach is 9-8 with a 2.84 ERA. She’s appeared in 32 games with 20 starts and eight complete games. She’s allowed 126 hits in 125 innings with 43 walks and 78 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .257 against her so far this season.

Through late last week, PSU is 24-17.

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The King’s College softball team split a doubleheader with non-conference local rival The University of Scranton recently at the Jessup Sports Complex.

King’s won the first game 7-6 before Scranton took the nightcap 8-0.

In the opener, Amber Saylor powered King’s offensively with a 3-for-4 effort, including two home runs, a double, and six RBI.

Saylor’s two-run home run in the third inning gave the Monarchs a 2-0 lead. Her two-run shot in the fifth pushed the score to 5-0. After Scranton score four in the bottom of the frame, Saylor delivered a two-run double in the sixth to give King’s a 7-4 advantage.

Through late last week, Saylor is batting .404 in 21 games with 17 starts. She has 19 hits in 47 at bats and 16 runs scored. She slugging .617 this season with four doubles and two home runs to go with 11 RBIs. She’s struck out just five times while walking nine times giving her a .500 on base percentage.