IRVINE, Calif. - Concordia sophomore pitcher Callie Nunes is no stranger to winning awards.  Since arriving at CUI, Nunes has received a plethora of awards, and on Wednesday, she received another.  After leading the Eagles to a 7-0 record last week, Nunes was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Pitcher of the Week.

In seven appearances, Nunes went a perfect 7-0, running her season's record to 29-4 and lowering her ERA to 0.96.  She finished the week with four wins over Holy Names, two over Academy of Art, and capped the week with a win over the Dominican University of California.  She pitched 31.1 innings and gave up only one earned run.  Her ERA for the week was a measly 0.22, and she struck out 40 hitters, while walking only nine.  Nunes gave up only 11 hits all week, and threw her sixth career no hitter against Academy of Art on April 17.

In the opening game against Holy Names, Nunes pitched a complete game shutout, and followed up her game one performance with two no-hit innings out of the bullpen in the second game, again earning the win.  The next day, she repeated her performance.  After giving up just one hit and no runs in the opener, Nunes came out of the bullpen in game two and earned her fourth win in two days. 

The Eagles continued their busy week by taking on ART U the following day and Nunes took her game to a new level.  Against the Urban Knights, she threw her fourth no-hitter of the season and sixth of her career.  She struck out 12 hitters, walked only two, and completed her 101 pitch masterpiece by striking out the final two batters.  For the third day in a row, CUI head coach Crystal Rosenthal stuck with the recipe that worked.  Nunes pitched game two out of the bullpen, going 4.2 innings, while giving up only one unearned run and earning her sixth win of the week.  Finally, Nunes capped off the week with a victory over Dominican, going five strong, allowing just one earned run, her first of the week, and leading the Eagles to another victory.

"It's really been an improvement for me (with my control) from the beginning of the season," said Nunes. "We've really worked hard on getting ahead in the strike zone, pounding the zone, and going right at hitters rather than get them to try and swing and miss."

Nunes' success comes as no surprise to followers of the program.  She has been dominant from the moment she stepped foot in the circle for the Eagles.  In 2019, she ranks at or near the top in nearly every statistical category in Division II.  As of 04/18/2019, Nunes ranks first in the nation in wins (29), first in shutouts (11), second in strikeouts (218), fourth in hits allowed per seven innings (3.16), and sixth in ERA (0.96). 

Nunes was also named as one of 25 finalists for the 2019 NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Awards. The list of 25 student-athletes will be whittled down to ten finalists on May 14, with the top DII pitcher and top DII player each being ultimately announced from that list on May 30.

2019 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division II Player & Pitcher of the Year Top 25 Finalists
 
Emily Benson, Western Washington University, Senior, First Base
Shelby Booker, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Sophomore, Third Base
Rosa'Lynn Burton, Wilmington University, Junior, Outfield
Georgia Capell, Tarleton State University, Sophomore, Outfield
Jordan Davis, Rollins College, Senior, Outfield
Makaleigh Dooley, University of Tampa, Senior, Pitcher
JoBi Heath, University of Central Oklahoma, Senior, Third Base
Teala Howard, University of West Florida, Freshman, Utility
Sara Keeny, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Senior, Outfield
Jordyn Kleman, Winona State University, Junior, Pitcher
Jennifer Leonhardt, University of Southern Indiana, Junior, Pitcher
Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State University, Senior, pitcher
Peyton Mills, Harding University, Senior, Outfield
Kylee Moore, West Texas A&M University, Senior, First Base
Callie Nunes, Concordia University Irvine, Sophomore, Pitcher
MaKray Odom, Trevecca Nazarene University, Junior, Shortstop
Emily Otto, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Sophomore, Pitcher
Christa Reisinger, Truman State University, Senior, Outfield
Rhiannon Sassman, University of West Florida, Senior, Third Base
Julia Seader, Long Island University Post, Senior, Catcher
Kylee Smith, University of North Georgia, Junior, Pitcher
AnnMarie Torres, Colorado Mesa University, Junior, First Base
Brylynn Vallejos, San Francisco State University, Freshman, outfield
Lani Van Zyl, Winona State University, Senior, Shortstop
Natalie Willis, Newberry College, Senior, Shortstop

Callie Nunes and the Eagles return to the field on Thursday, taking on Biola in a doubleheader in La Mirada, Calif.  The final home series of the regular season for the Eagles is on Saturday, as CUI takes on Azusa Pacific at Eagles Field.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.

For the full CUI softball schedule, click here.