ROME, Ga. – Salem's Alli Stertzbach wrapped up the final week of the 2023 regular season by becoming the second player in program history to earn USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week honors, which came in a formal announcement from the league office on Tuesday, May 2nd.

Stertzbach joins Miranda Barker as the only two Salem players to earn the USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Week accolades from the league. Barker received the honor on February 26, 2018. She is the second Salem first year to earn recognition from the league office this season. Teammate Jessica Pinnix was named USA South Rookie of the Week on March 27th.

Stertzbach entered the circle on three occasions for Salem during a four-day stretch, facing William Peace in the opening game of a doubleheader on April 26th. She returned to the circle against Methodist, tossing both games of the series, on April 29th at Blixt Field.

In a five-inning setback in Raleigh, N.C., Stertzbach tossed four innings, allowed nine earned runs and issued three walks versus William Peace. She fanned two Pacer hitters, notching her seventh multi-strikeout performance of the slate.

Four days later, in the first game of the final regular season series versus the Monarchs, the Huntersville, N.C., native finished off a complete game, seven inning clash by allowing four earned runs in 134 pitches, while making two strikeouts in a 10-5 setback.

Her afternoon against Methodist drew to a close with a 13-5 setback where she struck out two sluggers, allowed six earned runs and hurled 99 pitches in five innings. Stertzbach's week drew to a close with her making a total of 296 pitches in three contests over the course of 16 innings, allowing just 19 earned runs among the 32 total earned runs scored against her in the circle.

Stertzbach's season came to a close with her making 11 starts in her 15 total appearances for the Spirits. She had the second-most innings pitched (51), behind only Kat Price's 78.1, while allowing the fewest hits (98) and recording the most strikeouts (32) of any Salem pitcher. Her 4.79 strikeouts per seven innings were the highest among Spirit pitchers. Stertzbach had nine multi-strikeout games on the season, including a single-game season-high seven in a clash with Ferrum on March 19th.