Softball player Jessi Werner was named Forester Athlete of the Week on Thursday for her performance at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Leadoff Classic last weekend.
Werner, a senior pitcher, was 3-0 with a 0.69 earned run average while appearing in all five of Lake Forest's games at the event. She recorded 26 strikeouts while walking just two hitters in 20.1 innings of work.
Werner came on in relief in the Foresters' first game of the weekend, a 2-1 triumph in eight innings over Alma College. She allowed just one base hit while striking out three hitters and walking one in the game's final three innings to earn the victory.
The starting and winning pitcher in Lake Forest's second pool play game, a 3-1 triumph over the University of St. Thomas. She scattered seven base hits over five innings and allowed just one run while once again recording three strikeouts and a walk.
Werner's most dominant performance came in the third game, a 10-6 win over Methodist University. She struck out 10 batters without a walk in six-and-a-third shutout innings. Methodist managed just two singles against her.
After winning their pool, the Foresters qualified for the Gold Bracket, where they fell 8-3 to #3 Christopher Newport University and 6-5 to #10 Berry College. Werner pitched in relief in both contests and tallied 10 strikeouts while allowing just a run on three hits in a combined six innings of work.
Werner, Lake Forest's all-time leader with 451 career strikeouts, is now 3-2 with a 2.26 earned run average and 31 strikeouts in as many innings this season.
Forester Athletes of the Week are selected by the Athletic Department on Thursdays. Werner also earned the award once as a freshman, three times as a sophomore, and once last year.
