North Texas softball pitcher strikes out 21 in perfect game

PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - How about this for perfection by North Texas softball pitcher Hope Trautwein - 21 batters faced, 21 strikeouts.

Trautwein threw the perfect game Sunday, striking out all 21 Arkansas-Pine Bluff batters she faced in a 3-0 win.

It was the first perfect game in North Texas history, and is believed to be the first perfect seven-inning game in NCAA Division I history with every out being a strikeout.

NCAA records list two other pitchers with 21 strikeouts in a seven-inning game, but neither of those were perfect games.

Trautwein, a senior from Pflugerville, Texas, also had 21 strikeouts in a seven-inning game in her first start this season. But the right-hander also gave up five hits in a 6-2 win Feb. 13 against Southeastern Louisiana.

The NCAA single-game record for strikeouts is 28, by Northwestern's Eileen Canney in an 18-inning game against Minnesota in 2006, and Baylor's Cristin Vitek in 16 innings against North Carolina in 2004.

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