LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior Julie Graf was honored as the Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week honoree by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Wednesday afternoon.

The accolade came on the heels of Graf being named the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Softball Pitcher of the Week for the 12th time in her career on Monday. The senior is believed to be the first Ole ever to earn Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher or Player of the Week honors.

Graf went the distance in both of her starts last week and shut down a pair of 2019 NCAA Tournament teams with complete-game victories. She held UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse to one run in 14.0 innings of work (0.50 ERA) with 33 strikeouts against only two walks.

On Saturday, Graf struck out 15 in a three-hit shutout of UW-Eau Claire for the 17th shutout of her career as part of a 2-0 victory. The next day, she struck out 18 in a 3-1 win over UW-La Crosse, while limiting the Eagles to one run on six hits in the 50th complete game of her career.

With her 33 strikeouts over the weekend, Graf moved up one spot into 23rd in NCAA Division III history with 920 for her career. She ranks second in the country in strikeouts per seven innings (16.3), sixth in strikeouts (62) and 12th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (12.40) this season.

St. Olaf is slated to head to Florida for a 10-game showing at the Spring Games from March 20-26.