University of South Alabama Athletics

Beard improved her season’s untarnished 23-0 record with two wins last weekend at the 2013 Mobile Regional, both in elimination games. The right-hander from Fairhope, Ala., struck out 22 batters in 14 shutout innings to keep South Alabama’s hopes alive.  With the performance, Beard has not allowed a run in six consecutive appearances totaling 33 1/3 innings. Entering the week ranked third in the NCAA in hits allowed per seven innings (3.46), Beard permitted only three all weekend and pitched her way out of several two-on, two-out situations, a circumstance in which she lowered opponents’ batting average to .096.