WINONA, Minn. — It was a busy opening week for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's Ashley Betzold (Farmington, Minn.)
 
The senior right-hander started eight of the Cardinal fastpitch softball team's 10 games during their spring trip to Clermont, Fla.—and finished with a 2.36 earned-run-average and seven complete games in helping Saint Mary's post a 4-6 record.
 
And Monday afternoon, Betzold was rewarded for her efforts, being named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced.
 
Betzold allowed just 18 earned runs in 53 1/3 innings of work—including surrendering just one run in a 2-1, eight-inning victory over Augustana to kick off the spring trip on Feb. 26, not to mention a six-hit shutout against Rose-Hulman on March 1, and a three-hit gem against Mitchell in an 8-0 victory to close out the trip last Saturday.
 
Betzold, who pushed her career complete-game record total to 63 with her seven complete games last week, finished with 35 strikeouts—including an eight-strikeout effort against Mitchell last Saturday.
 
As if her Herculean effort inside the pitcher's circle wasn't enough, Betzold also made her presence felt at the plate, hitting .324 (11-for-34) with three doubles, four runs and three RBIs.
 
The Cardinals (4-6 overall) do not play again until March 25, when they kick off the home portion of their schedule—weather permitting—with a 1 p.m. nonconference doubleheader against UW-River Falls.