Star Pitcher Russo Lands on All-WAC Second Team
5/6/2025 5:04:00 PM | Softball
ACU senior right-handed pitcher Lina Russo has been named to the All-WAC Second Team, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.
Russo has thrown a conference-leading 173.1 innings -- 20 innings more than the next closest WAC pitcher -- this season. Russo's 104 strikeouts are the third-most in the WAC.
"When she gets the ball we have all the confidence in the world that we're going to win the game," head coach Jo Koons said. "She continues to work and dedicates herself to her craft."
The second team selection is the third postseason conference honor of Russo's career. While at Ball State she was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022, and an All-MAC Second Team pick in 2023.
Russo has continued to improve as the season has gone along. After ACU's four tournaments in the front half of the season, her earned run average stood at 4.55. But it has now dropped to 3.19 entering the WAC Tournament which starts Wednesday in Riverside, Calif.
She has gone the distance 17 times in her 28 starts in 2025, including a no-hitter against Southern Utah on March 14 among three other shutouts.
Russo also earned two WAC Pitcher of the Week awards this season.
The Wildcats are the No. 5 seed for the conference tournament. They play eighth-seeded Utah Valley in a single-elimination game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT. The winner advances to the double elimination portion of the tournament and will play No. 4 seed Seattle U on Wednesday at 9 p.m. CT.
Russo has thrown a conference-leading 173.1 innings -- 20 innings more than the next closest WAC pitcher -- this season. Russo's 104 strikeouts are the third-most in the WAC.
"When she gets the ball we have all the confidence in the world that we're going to win the game," head coach Jo Koons said. "She continues to work and dedicates herself to her craft."
The second team selection is the third postseason conference honor of Russo's career. While at Ball State she was the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 2022, and an All-MAC Second Team pick in 2023.
Russo has continued to improve as the season has gone along. After ACU's four tournaments in the front half of the season, her earned run average stood at 4.55. But it has now dropped to 3.19 entering the WAC Tournament which starts Wednesday in Riverside, Calif.
She has gone the distance 17 times in her 28 starts in 2025, including a no-hitter against Southern Utah on March 14 among three other shutouts.
Russo also earned two WAC Pitcher of the Week awards this season.
The Wildcats are the No. 5 seed for the conference tournament. They play eighth-seeded Utah Valley in a single-elimination game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT. The winner advances to the double elimination portion of the tournament and will play No. 4 seed Seattle U on Wednesday at 9 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
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