NEW ORLEANS – After tossing a pair of shutouts in the University of South Alabama softball team's series sweep over Coastal Carolina, Olivia Lackie was selected as the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week as announced by the league office on Tuesday.
The honor marks the 50th time in program history that South has had a player earn a weekly honor from the Sun Belt and the 29th time a pitcher has done so. Individually, the accolade is the fifth of Lackie's career, which is only second to former Jag Devin Brown's 11 selections.
Lackie was impressive in the CCU series as she tossed 14 innings of shutout ball, allowing just seven hits, striking out 21 and walking just two, while holding the Chants to a .146 batting average in the series.
In Friday night's series opener, the sophomore struck out 14 and allowed just four hits. Coastal Carolina moved its first runner into scoring position with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Lackie was able to get Keirstin Roose looking for her 12th strikeout of the evening to end the inning. The Chants threatened to tie the game up in the top of the seventh loading the bases with one out, but Lackie struck out pinch hitter Shae Schreckengost and Madison Hudson to preserve the shut out.
She had two or more strike outs in five of her seven innings of work, striking out the side in the second and fifth innings. Lackie also retired the Chants in order in the first, third and fourth innings. Lackie went 0-2 to nine CCU batters and picked up six of her strikeouts in those counts. The Walker, La., native posted her 100th strike out this season and the 350th of her Jaguar career in the game one victory.
With her 14 strikeouts, Lackie posted her fourth double-digit strikeout game of the spring, the 11th such outing of her career. She also posted her 100th strikeout of the season and the 350th of her South Alabama career in the victory.
In Sunday's finale, Lackie was just as good holding CCU to three hits and posted nine more strikeouts, while picking up her second shutout victory of the series. Lackie carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning, which was broken up by a bloop single.
Coastal placed runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings with two on and one out in the latter frame, but Lackie ended the inning with a pair of shallow fly outs. Lackie needed just six pitches to retire the side in order – her fourth time to do so in the game – in the final frame and clinched the victory with her ninth strike out of the contest.
Lackie used just 106 pitches in the complete-game effort, throwing 75 for strikes for a 70.8 strike percentage in the series finale.
Over her last six outings, Lackie has walked just seven batters and struck out 66, while lowering her earned run average to 1.71. She has struck out 118 in her 77.2 innings of work, compared to just 29 walks and a .150 opponent batting average.
South Alabama (15-14, 8-1 SBC) will head back out on the road to open up a three-game series at Appalachian State on April 8-10 (Fri.-Sun.) at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. First pitch of game one of the series versus the Mountaineers is set for 4 p.m. (CT), while games two and three are set for 1 p.m. (CT) and 11 a.m. (CT).
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.
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