SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Dani Hayward was named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Softball Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon by the conference office.
 
In a 5-1 week for the Raiders, Hayward went 2-1 with a save. She threw 23 innings in the circle, including three complete games, and struck out 30 batters.
 
Hayward began the week with a Tuesday shutout of Pitt-Johnstown. She struck out a season-best eight batters and only allowed three hits.
 
On Saturday, after a tough start to the game against Charleston, Hayward scattered one run on five hits over her final five innings against the Golden Eagles. Overall, Hayward finished her complete game against UC with a career-high 11 strikeouts – the performance was the second double-digit strikeout game of her career.
 
On Sunday, Hayward pitched in both SU wins; she earned the save against Slippery Rock by pitching the final two innings of a 9-8 win and later the complete-game victory against Glenville State. Hayward threw nine innings in total, allowed three earned runs, and struck out 11 on the day.
 
It is the first Pitcher of the Week award this season for Hayward and the second of her career, accompanying a previous honor on April 14, 2025. It is her third overall weekly award, as she was named the Athlete of the Week on April 28, 2025.
 
It is the third straight week that a Raider has earned a weekly award; Gianna Cimino was named the Athlete of the Week last Monday and Sarah Sabocsik was the inaugural Athlete of the Week on March 3.