OFFICIAL RELEASE

NEW ORLEANS, La. – No. 14 University of South Alabama softball's Farish Beard has been named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row and third time this season, making her the first of any league student-athlete to do so, the league announced on Monday.
 
Beard went 3-0 last weekend at Florida Atlantic Parents' Weekend, moving to 12-1 on the season. The junior struck out 28 batters and allowed only seven hits and a pair of earned runs and walks in 22 innings pitched, including her first complete-game shutout, to service her team-leading 0.64 ERA.
 
The Fairhope, Ala., native retired 19 straight Marshall batters to see the game out and allow USA to garner its winning margin in the sixth inning. Beard now has 118 strikeouts on the year and has allowed only three earned runs in 69 1/3 total innings pitched.

Including Blair Johnson's Player of the Week honor two weeks ago, a USA student-athlete has been honored by the conference in four of five total voting periods thus fas this season.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).