NEW ORLEANS | After leading the Jags to a 3-1 record this past week, including a Sun Belt Conference series victory at Texas State over the weekend, Olivia Lackie was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for the third time this spring.

The honor marks the seventh time in her career and the 33rd time in which the program has had a pitcher earn the award. The eight selections are second-most (Devin Brown – 11) in program history. Lackie's selection marks the second-straight week a Jaguar pitcher has earned the honor as Jenna Hardy was selected the league's pitcher of the week last week.

Lackie helped the Jags remain in second place as she picked up both wins in the series versus the Bobcats over the weekend. The Walker, La., native allowed just one run and finished with a 0.50 earned run average. In her 14 innings of work in the series, Lackie scattered eight hits and struck out 12. 

On Friday, Lackie held the Bobcats in check long enough to give South's offense a chance as the Jags rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to pick up a 2-1 series-opening win over Texas State. Lackie allowed a run in the second inning, but was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam and prevent any further damage with a pop out to third.

Sunday saw the right hander come through in a big way as she tossed a two-hit complete game shutout to clinch the series for the Jags. 

With two runners on and South holding a two-run lead in the bottom half of the fourth, Lackie ended the scoring threat as she was able to get Karmyn Bass swinging – her fifth strikeout of the contest – to end the frame and preserve the 2-0 South Alabama lead. Lackie had also left a runner in scoring position the previous inning as she got a called third strike.

Staked to a six-run lead in the fifth after the Jags had scored four in the top half of the inning, Lackie posted a shutdown inning as she retired the Bobcats in order – one of her 1-2-3 innings in the contests. With a runner at third and two outs, Lackie preserved the shutout as she got a fly out to left to end the game.

The shutout was the ninth of the season for Lackie and the 25th of her career. She also moved into a tie for fourth all-time at South in appearances in the circle with former Jag Farish Beard (94, 2012-15), and tied Beard for third in career complete games as she went the distance for the 43rd time in her career.

South Alabama (22-10, 5-1 SBC) will return home this weekend to host ULM in a three=game league series with game one of the series set to get underway on Friday evening at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field.

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