Shannon Murray
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- Title:
- Pitching Coach
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- Email:
- murray@lakeforest.edu
The 2017 season will be Murray's fourth as the Foresters' pitching coach after a four-year playing career at fellow Midwest Conference member Lawrence University. She also assists the head coach in numerous other aspects of the program.
The Foresters are 93-35 overall and 40-5 in MWC play during Murray's three years on staff. They claimed conference titles and qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament in each of those seasons. The 2015 team rattled off four consecutive NCAA Tournament victories to advance to the super regional round.
A dozen individual program records and three team marks have been set or tied by Lake Forest pitchers during Murray's three seasons on staff. Jessi Werner was named Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2015 after Jenny McTague claimed MWC South Pitcher of the Year honors the year before. Both pitchers were First Team All-MWC honorees in 2016 and they have combined for five all-conference awards over the last three seasons. Forester pitchers have also combined for 803 strikeouts and a 2.15 earned run average since Murray joined the staff.
Murray has worked with softball players of various ages in individual lesson or team settings since 2007. During her playing career at Lawrence, she also gave private lessons to young pitchers in the area.
Murray pitched in 94 games for the Vikings, completing 36 of her 54 starts and posting a record of 38-37 with eight shutouts, five saves, 310 strikeouts, and a 3.42 earned run average. She also batted .356 in her career with 33 doubles, six home runs, and 88 runs batted in. The two-year captain at Lawrence was also her team's Most Vauable Player twice, a three-time all-region selection, and the MWC North Division Pitcher of the Year in 2013.
A graduate student at Grand Canyon University, Murray is working towards the completion of her teacher certification and a master's degree in secondary education.
