Central College senior pitcher Kiley Lythberg is the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III softball player of the week.

Lythberg posted a 4-0 mark with a 0.84 earned run average in five starts last week. She yielded just three runs in 25 innings, allowing 12 hits and five walks while striking out 23 batters. She also had a career-high 12 strikeouts against Schreiner and in three scoreless innings against then #18 Wis.-La Crosse surrendered two hits and no walks in a 10-1 victory. Lythberg also hit .440 for the week as the team’s designated player, with 7 RBIs.

Earlier Lythberg was tabbed as the Iowa Conference pitcher of the week.

It’s the first time that a Central player has received the national player of the week award since catcher Kelly Harris was cited May 5, 2005.

Ranked #10, Central is 14-2 overall and returns to action April 1 with non-conference games against Washington-St. Louis and Dubuque at Grinnell.