CLEVELAND, Ohio - Junior right-hander Kailey Minarchick has been named Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week for the opening week of play, the league office announced on Tuesday. 

The recognition is Minarchick's first weekly award of her UT career, and the first for the Rockets since Heather Webb received the award on March 21 last season. 

The Columbia Station, Ohio native tallied two wins, did not allow a run in 12.2 innings of work and recorded 10 strikeouts compared to just two walks in Dot Richardson's National Collegiate Softball Invitational over the weekend.  

Minarchick was the Rockets' opening-game starter and proceeded to throw a one-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Fairleigh Dickinson. She then recorded six strikeouts in 4.0 one-hit innings of relief to earn the win in UT's 2-1 comeback win over Morgan State. To cap the weekend, Minarchick retired five of seven batters she faced against reigning NISC champion Liberty.

Minarchick and the Rockets are off this weekend as they prepare for the WKU Hilltopper Classic on Feb. 23-25 in Bowling Green, Ky.