March 18, 2008
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Redshirt-freshman Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif./Leigh) of the Penn State University softball team was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week the conference office announced yesterday (March 17). She also picked up the Penn State Female Student-Athlete of the Week award as well. Hill is the first Nittany Lion to receive Pitcher of the Week since Missy Beseres (2002-06) won it back on February 28, 2006.
Hill had a tremendous week going 3-1 with a save in five appearances. She also had the game-winning hit in the final game of the week, a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Nittany Lions to a 3-2 victory over Boston University.
She pitched 25.2 innings striking out 11 while allowing just one run good for a 0.27 ERA. Hill pitched three complete games including two shutouts in her three starts while coming in relief for two games. In her first game of the week she pitched a complete game two hitter against Sam Houston State University.
The awards cap off a tremendous spring break for Hill as she went 5-1 with a 0.16 ERA in 43.1 innings. She registered 34 strikeouts and allowed only one run over the 10-day span. Her team-leading 0.82 ERA on the year has propelled the Nittany Lion pitching staff's ERA to a season-low 1.00 after 24 games.
The Nittany Lions will next be in action this Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. as they begin play in the Best Western Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.