Former KP standout Ricco top pitcher, rookie of the week in Atlantic-10

George Washington University softball pitcher Meghan Rico, a former King Philip High standout, was named as Pitcher and Rookie of the Week for games played April 8-14 in the Atlantic 10. The announcement was made Monday.

Rico was outstanding in the circle for the Colonials last week. In three appearances, including two starts, she went 3-0 with a 0.54 ERA, striking out 18 and allowing just one run on five hits in 13.0 innings, holding opponents to a .116 batting average.

Rico started the week with a complete game win at Mount St. Mary's, when she gave up one run on three hits and struck out eight.

The Wrentham native tossed a perfect seventh inning in relief to earn the win in the first game against St. Bonaventure on Saturday, then tossed a two-hit shutout - her fourth clean sheet of the season - with nine strikeouts in the nightcap.

Rico is 11-7 on the season with a 2.88 ERA and 104 strikeouts. She ranks second in the A-10 in opponent batting average (.178), third in wins and fifth in strikeouts.

The awards are the first of Rico's career, and she is the first Colonial to be named both Pitcher and Rookie of the Week in the same week. Rico is the second Colonial to earn Rookie of the Week this season, joining Carlee Gray on March 19, and is the first Colonials' player to be dubbed the league's top pitcher since Heidi Penna on April 23, 2012.

The Colonials return to action Friday when they visit Atlantic 10 rival Rhode Island.