DALLAS – Missouri State softball's Emily Koranda was named Conference USA Freshman of the Week following her performance at the Lion Invitational, the league announced today (Feb. 16).
 
Koranda went 2-0 and earned her first career save in the circle last weekend across an undefeated tournament for the Bears. The right-hander hurled 12.1 innings without allowing an earned run and allowed just four hits while striking out 10 batters.
 
The Marion, Iowa native threw a complete game shutout against Jackson State that included five strikeouts in the opening game of the Lion Invitational. A couple of days later, she tossed two scoreless innings in relief against Rhode Island to earn the save in a three-run win for Missouri State. In the tournament finale against East Texas A&M, Koranda didn't allow a hit in 4.1 innings of work and struck out four batters to claim her third win of the season and second of the weekend.
 
After the first two weeks of the season, Koranda ranked second in CUSA in earned run average (1.06) and strikeouts (27) and is the top freshman in those categories. She also ranks inside the top five in the league in opposing batting average and wins.
 
Missouri State is back on the road next week at the Green and Gold Classic hosted by UAB. The Bears kick off action on Friday, Feb. 20 with games against Southern Illinois (11:30 a.m.) and Tennessee (4:30 p.m.).