Alumni Update - Nicole Sleith (Robert Morris)

Robert Morris freshman pitcher Nicole Sleith, a Yough High School graduate, claimed a pair of weekly softball honors from the Northeast Conference for the second straight week.

Sleith was named both Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week, earning both awards for the second-consecutive week and for the third time in the past four weeks, after she led RMU to the regular-season NEC title over the weekend.

With these two awards, Robert Morris extended its own single-season school record for weekly NEC honors as it has now garnered 12 this season, which is more than double that of any other conference school. It is also the fifth week this season in which Robert Morris has taken home multiple weekly honors.

Sleith earned her third pitcher of the week honor and fifth rookie of the week accolade to bring her season total to eight awards.

Sleith was brilliant in the circle Sunday and contributed significantly to RMU's sweep of Central Connecticut State that clinched the regular-season championship for the Colonials. She threw all 14 innings against the Blue Devils and allowed just a lone run on eight hits, seven singles and a double. She racked up 14 strikeouts against just one walk and no hit batters on the day.

With the two victories, Sleith moved into third place in single-season wins at RMU with 22, the most by a Colonial since her current assistant coach, Lauren Dickinson, tallied 24 in 2001. Sleith, who now has 116 strikeouts against just 13 walks in her past 15 starts, also moved into a tie for fifth in single-season strikeouts (217) and into seventh place in single-season complete games at RMU with 23.

Sleith's performances Sunday helped continue RMU's recent run prevention in league play. The Colonials have now given up just nine earned runs in their past 11 league games, conceding just 47 hits in 76 innings.

Within NEC play, at the week's outset, Sleith led the league in each of the pitching triple-crown categories as she was first in ERA (1.50), wins (12) and strikeouts (113). She also ranks among the top 40 nationally in overall ERA (1.59), wins (22) and strikeouts (217). She has demonstrated an ability to shut the door on opposition rallies as she has held opponents to a .171 batting average with runners in scoring position throughout the season.

RMU has now claimed 16 of the past 41 weekly rookie honors dating to March 2009, a substantial figure in an 11-team league.

By virtue of clinching the outright regular-season title, the Colonials claimed the top seed and the right to host the 2012 NEC Tournament, which will take play Thursday, May 10, through Saturday, May 12, at the North Athletic Complex.

(photo courtesy of Robert Morris University)