McMINNVILLE, Ore. – After picking up two wins over the weekend, Linfield’s Claire Velaski has been named the Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week, as announced Tuesday by the league’s sports information directors.

Velaski threw her first career shutout in the game one of the series against George Fox, leading No. 1 Linfield to a 12-0 defeat of the Bruins. Over five innings, she struck out 10 batters while walking only three.

She protected her 0.00 ERA for the week with another win over Lewis & Clark, retiring four Pioneers and giving up just one hit in two innings of work.

Velaski has four wins already this season and boasts a 2.14 ERA. She is holding opposing hitters to a .145 batting average, and her 23 strikeouts lead the team.

This is the first weekly honor of the season for the 2010 NWC Pitcher of the Year, and the fourth of her career.

NEXT: Velaski and the ‘Cats play a makeup doubleheader Wednesday against Concordia, beginning at 3 p.m.