MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s Farish Beard was named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday after going 3-0 with 29 strikeouts at the 2014 Mardi Gras Invitational, the first weekly softball award announced by the conference this season.
It is the second straight season Beard has earned Pitcher of the Week honors for the opening week of play.
Scoreless Streak Reaches 46 Innings
Beard allowed only three hits in 12 2/3 innings during the tournament, played at the newly renovated Jaguar Field. She extended a scoreless streak dating to last season to 46 consecutive innings.
She was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and to the All-Tournament team as South Alabama opened 5-0, the best start in program history.
Game-by-Game
Beard made her season debut against No. 21 UAB, striking out 10 in an 8-0 win shortened by the run rule.
She followed with 13 strikeouts against Syracuse, one short of her career high.
Against Austin Peay, Beard pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief and worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. She struck out six, walked none and allowed one hit in that appearance.
Up Next
South Alabama travels to Athens, Ga., for the Bulldog Invitational, where the Jaguars will play Ohio, Mercer and Furman and face host Georgia twice.
The Jaguars compete in the Sun Belt Conference and play their home games at Jaguar Field on the university’s campus in Mobile.
