MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s Farish Beard has been named Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week after going 3-0 in her return from an injury that had sidelined her for several weeks, the conference office announced Monday.
Beard earned two wins over Sun Belt opponent Appalachian State over the weekend and a midweek non-conference win over Conference USA member Southern Miss.
21 Strikeouts in 18 Innings
Over 18 innings, Beard struck out 21 batters and walked four. She allowed nine hits and one earned run.
Beard held Southern Miss to two hits on Wednesday. She also allowed just two hits to Appalachian State in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning before the Mountaineers recorded a pair of hits. She then retired six of the final seven batters she faced.
Among National Leaders
Beard ranks second in the NCAA in hits allowed per seven innings (2.68) and third nationally in ERA (0.41).
Within the Sun Belt, she leads in ERA, fewest hits allowed (13), fewest runs allowed (4) and fewest earned runs allowed (2), and she is tied for the league lead in fewest home runs allowed (1). She ranks second in the conference in opponent batting average (.120) and third in fewest walks allowed (10).
Fourth Weekly Honor for Jaguars
South Alabama has now produced a Sun Belt weekly honoree in four of the seven voting periods this season. Freshman Devin Brown was named Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 9 and March 2, and senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith was named Player of the Week on Feb. 23.
Beard, a native of Fairhope, Ala., and the Jaguars are coached by Becky Clark.
