Leslie Malerich Class: Senior Hometown: Merrillville, IN High School: Merrillville HS Position: P

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The pitching staff’s No. 1 starter…will be expected to lead a young staff, which includes a sophomore and a freshman in the rotation…a returning All-American who will get the ball in FSU’s biggest games in 2002.

2001: Florida State’s ace on the mound for the second season in a row...third team NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American and second team Easton All-American...led FSU in wins (26), fewest losses (3), winning percentage (.897), starts (30), complete games (25), shutouts (13), innings pitched (205.1), strikeouts (160), batters struck out looking (51), triples allowed (1), homeruns allowed (1) and batters faced (613)…reigning ACC Player of the Year went a perfect 4-0 with a 0.80 ERA in 2001 NCAA Tallahassee Regional...pitched three complete games, recorded one shutout and led the team in appearances (5), wins (4), game starts (4), complete games (3), shut outs (1), innings pitched (26.1) and strikeouts (21) at the 2001 NCAA Regional...named to the 2001 NCAA Tallahassee Regional All-Tournament team...went a perfect 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in ACC games and led the team in complete games (4), shutouts (4), innings pitched (26.0), runs allowed (0), earned runs allowed (0) and opponent batting average (.180) in conference play…had the nation’s 10th best ERA (0.72) last season…named to the All-ACC Tournament Team after going 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in four appearances with two complete games and a shutout…three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week…garnered Most Valuable Pitcher honors at the FAU/Worth Invitational in Boca Raton, FL after limiting opponents to a .146 batting average and averaging 6.42 strikeouts per game…also led the team in ERA (0.21), wins (5), complete games (5), shutouts (4), innings pitched (33.0), home runs allowed (0) and opponent’s batting average (.197) in SASA competition…pitched a one-hitter against FAMU Apr. 11…twelve strikeouts against Boston College (Feb. 17) were a season high for the junior right-hander…didn’t issue a single walk in 10 of her 34 appearances…won ten straight decisions to finish the season…had stretches of 17, 23 and 24 innings where she didn’t allow an earned run…struck out seven or more batters on eight occasions…only allowed one triple and two homers all season.

2000: FSU's ace on the mound...was the team leader with a 35-15 record and a 1.21 ERA...was a second team All-Southeast Region selection… earned All-ACC honors…garnered All-Tournament team honors at the NCAA Los Angeles regional...was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2000 ACC Softball Championships after leading FSU to the title...set a new FSU single-season record with 58 appearances...tied the FSU single-season pitching record for victories with 35...is among just five FSU pitchers all-time to reach the 30-win mark...led the FSU pitching staff with 243 strikeouts and 16 shutouts...pitched 323 innings...earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors six times...was named to the UTC Frost Cutlery Challenge All-Tournament Team and also earned MVP honors...recorded her first career perfect game against Princeton on March 15…also had a no-hitter vs. FAMU...had 37 complete games…struck out season-high 11 batters vs. FAU on Feb. 12...had stretches where she didn't give up an earned run in 17, 25 & 46 consecutive innings...held the opposition to a .194 batting average.

1999: Saw a great deal of action playing behind veterans Stacy Venable and Jennifer White…finished the season with an 11-8 record and a 2.03 ERA...had four shutouts and pitched 145 innings...struck out 93 batters and appeared in 32 games…had her first career no-hitter against Toledo.

HIGH SCHOOL: Was the state of Indiana softball strike out leader in 1996, 1997 and 1998...is second all-time in the state of Indiana with 1,003 career strikeouts...was a Miss Softball Nominee in 1998…selected a two-time 1st team All-State honoree…helped her team to the state title in 1997 and was named the Player and Athlete of the Year in Indiana...twice earned conference Most Valuable Player honors...earned second team All-State accolades as a sophomore...holds every pitching record at her high school...also lettered and received numerous honors in volleyball and swimming...named the 1998 Merrillville High School Athlete of the Year.

PERSONAL: Major is sports management...third team ASA All-American at 2001 summer Nationals while playing with the Stratford Brakettes…her sister played softball and volleyball at Aurora University in Illinois...member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll...born February 29, 1980.