Moon Township, Pa. – In a vote of Horizon League head coaches, fifth-year pitcher
Dana Vatakis was named to the 2023 All-Horizon League First Team Tuesday.
Vatakis, a native of Monessen, Pa., has been an anchor for the Colonials during the 2023 season. She has appeared in 62.2% of RMU's games (28-of-45) this season from the circle, including a team-high 22 starts. In posting an overall record of 10-10, Vatakis has fashioned a 2.13 earned run average (ERA) while owning 12 complete games, including six shutouts.
Among Horizon League leaders, Vatakis paces the circuit in saves (3), ranks second in ERA and opposing batting average (.210), fifth in innings pitched (138.1) and 10th in strikeouts (85). Of her 85 strikeouts, 32 have been looking, which sits fourth in #HLSB.
Vatakis has been even better against league opposition this season. In 11 starts, Vatakis has notched a record of 7-2 from the circle with an ERA of 1.01 with eight complete games and six shutouts. In 69.1 innings during that stretch, Vatakis has struck out 40 and held opponents to a .181 batting average.
Entering the 2023 Horizon League Championships that begin Wednesday in Green Bay, Wisc., Vatakis ranks fourth in program history in appearances with 117, one of just sixth pitchers to toe the rubber at least 100 times. She also ranks fifth in starts (87) and is one eight pitchers at RMU to throw at least 500 innings, logging 564.2 from the circle. She has won 42 games with 45 complete games while striking out 374.
Vatakis, the lone RMU student-athlete to be named all-league for the only program with a record above .500 overall in 2023, is in the midst of arguably the best stretch of her career over the last month entering the 2023 #HLSB Championships. Over her last eight appearances, Vatakis is 5-2 from the circle with a 1.01 ERA and six complete games in seven starts, including three shutouts.
Led by fifth-year head coach
Jexx Varner, RMU earned a bye in the Horizon League Championships for the first time in program history in 2023. In addition to an overall record of 24-21 (.533), the Colonials finished 14-8 (.636) against the league, a half game behind Oakland (14-7) for the 2023 regular-season championship. As the No. 2 seed, RMU will square off with either No. 6 seed Youngstown State or No. 3 seed Northern Kentucky Thursday, May 11, at 3:30 p.m. from King Park. Green Bay, as the No. 5 seed in the championships, will serve as host.
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