NEW ORLEANS | For the second-straight week and the fourth time this spring South Alabama's Olivia Lackie was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday after leading the Jags to a series sweep of ULM over the weekend.

The honor marks the ninth time in her career and the 34th time in which the program has had a pitcher earn the award. The nine selections are second-most (Devin Brown – 11) in program history. Lackie's selection also marks the third-consecutive week a Jaguar pitcher has earned the honor as Jenna Hardy was selected the league's pitcher of the week two weeks ago.

Lackie had a hand in all three victories over the Warhawks as she was 2-0 and earned her second save of the year in game two of the series. In her 14.2 innings of work, Lackie allowed seven hits and a pair of walks, and struck out 17 batters, while holding ULM to a .137 batting average in all three of her appearances.

Coming into this weekend's series at UL, Lackie has not allowed a run in her last 27 innings of work. In the series this past weekend, the Warhawks were just 1-for-20 with runners aboard and of her 17 strikeouts, 10 came in those situations. She also had seven 1-2-3 innings in the series sweep.

Lackie tossed her first shutout of the weekend on Friday, as the Jags opened up the series with a 6-0 victory. ULM threatened to score in the opening frame, placing a runner at third, but the Walker, La., native, was able to get Madison Blount swinging to end the inning – one of her eight strikeouts on the night. Lackie retired 13-straight batters over a three-plus inning stretch, before allowing a leadoff walk to begin the seventh. Lackie struck out the next batter and then had pinch hitter Alexis Chavez to line out into a game-ending double play.

After ULM had cut the South Alabama lead to one (2-1) and had both the tying and go-ahead runs on base with just one out in the seventh in game two on Saturday, the junior righty entered the circle and retired the final two batters with a strikeout and a pop out short to preserve the win and clinch the series. The save was the ninth of her career, moving her into second place on the all-time list in the category at South.

On Sunday, Lackie registered her second shutout of the series as she scattered five hits and a walk, while striking out eight more batters. With the Jags holding a one-run lead, ULM placed a pair on in its half of the second as Andie Edwards dropped in a single in center and Blount drew a two-out walk, but Lackie was able to get Kennedy Johnson looking to end the inning.

With South Alabama holding a 4-0 advantage entering the seventh, the Warhawks threatened to tie up the game as they loaded the bases with two outs, but again Lackie had the answer as she struck out Lourdes Bacon swinging to end the game.

Lackie has been credited with the win in six of her last seven starts, and since her Feb. 17 start vs. Mississippi Valley State, she has allowed one or fewer runs in 13 of her last 16 starts, tossing all 11 of her shutouts over that stretch.

Currently, Lackie holds a 13-4 record with a 1.52 earned run average, 11 shutouts, 11 complete games, and in her 110.1 innings in the circle, she has struck out 135 batters and held opponents to a .178 batting average. She ranks second in the SBC in opposing batting average and strikeouts, and third in ERA and wins.

South Alabama (25-10, 8-1 SBC) will head out on the road for a pivotal three-game SBC series at Louisiana beginning Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at Lamson Park. The Jaguars – winners of 11 of their last 12 – and the Ragin' Cajuns enter the weekend series tied for second place in the conference standings. 

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