March 15, 2010
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Senior Jackie Hill (San Jose, Calif.) was named the Big Ten's Pitcher of the Week for her dominating performances in the circle during the Nittany Lions' stay in Florida. This is the first Pitcher of the Week honor for a Penn State student-athlete since 2008.
Hill had a career week in the circle with a 3-1 record over four starts in five appearances highlighted by a 14-inning, two complete-game shutout day in a 5-0 win over Kennesaw State and 1-0 over Southern Illinois.
For the week in five appearances, Hill went 0.80 with three complete games to her credit while also earning a save against Boston College. In over 26 innings of work, Hill allowed just 12 hits, three earned runs and nine walks while striking out 31.
Her 14-inning performance came after a 5.2 inning showing against Central Michigan in which she took the loss while fighting the stomach flu and recovering from a 10-inning game against South Florida two days earlier. Hill held opposing batters to .138 at the plate.
In the game against Florida Gulf Coast, after a home run in the first inning, Hill coasted the rest of the way, not allowing a hit, recording 21 final outs. In total, Hill pitched 21-straight innings with just two runs allowed in dominating fashion. She upped her record to 10-4 on the year with two saves, while lowering her overall ERA to 1.43 with a total of 106 strikeouts.
The last PSU pitcher to earn the award was Ashley Esparza who captured the weekly honor on March 25, 2008.
Penn State (17-7) is riding a five-game winning streak as the team went 8-3 during its Spring Break trip to Florida. The Lions went 3-2 in the USF Under Armour Invitational, lost to Central Michigan and beat Saint Joseph's in non-tournament mid-week games before going a perfect 4-0 in the USF Under Armour Showcase this weekend.
The Nittany Lions were the only team to go 4-0 at the USF Showcase, a tournament abbreviated by rain. Three other teams--Ball State, Central Michigan and New Mexico State--finished with 3-0 records.
Penn State will open its home slate of games with a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m. against the Saint Francis Red Flash. The following weekend, PSU starts Big Ten play when the Lions host Minnesota on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28.
--NITTANY LIONS--