GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It was announced Monday afternoon by the Southeastern Conference that left-handed pitcher Katie Chronister was awarded SEC Pitcher of the Week after her performances in the circle this past week for the Gators.
Chronister (4-0), in her fifth year, was lights out for the Gators (8-0) in the circle this past week as she tallied a victory in all three of her appearances and did not give up a run or a walk over the 12.2 innings pitched.
“I’m super proud of Katie!” Head Coach Tim Walton said. “She has persevered and worked tirelessly to get healthy and improve her mechanics, timing and her pitches. Earning an award like this is so special, and I couldn’t be happier for her!”
The Gainesville, Fla. native started the week in relief against Jacksonville last Wednesday. Chronister entered the game in the bottom of the 5th inning with the game scoreless and a Dolphins runner in scoring position with one out.
The veteran pitcher ended the threat with a quick groundout and strikeout, then retired six of the next seven batters faced to pick up her first win of the week as the Gators walked-off against Jacksonville.
In her second relief appearance of the week against Georgia Southern, Chronister hurled 3.0 innings without giving up a hit or a walk for her third win of the season and second of the week.
Her best performance of not only the week, but of her career, came in her start against Charlotte on the final day of the Bubly Invitational. Chronister hurled only the second complete-game shutout of her career in the win against the 49ers.
The first complete-game Chronister threw occurred in her first start as a freshman for the Gators against Delaware Feb. 12, 2017, where she hurled a 5.0 inning complete-game shutout against the Blue Hens.
The 7.0 innings pitched and six strikeouts we’re also both career-highs for the lefty and her 4-0 record is a season-high for wins. She is also currently riding a 19.1 scoreless inning streak, which bests her previous long of 14.1 scoreless innings split between the 2017-’18 seasons.
Chronister is a December 2019 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Health & Human Performance and is now pursuing her master’s degree in Sport Management with a concentration in Sports Law.
