Barnhill struck out 47 batters over 23 innings pitched this past week.
Barnhill Earns Multiple Weekly Awards
Tuesday, April 18, 2017 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – What will 47 strikeouts over 23 innings pitched, a no-hitter and a 4-0 record against Top 25 competition all in the span of a week get you? Well, for sophomore pitcher Kelly Barnhill it got her this week's Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, USA Softball Co-Player of the Week and SEC Pitcher of the Week.
It's the first time in program history that a Florida player has earned all three awards in the same week and the first time a Gator pitcher was named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times in a single season since Stacy Nelson accomplished the feat in 2009.
Barnhill, the nation's leader in ERA (0.19), started her week with a complete-game victory in the series finale against then-No. 19 Georgia (4/10). She dealt the Bulldogs 14 strikeouts to complete the series sweep, which was a season-high for the team out of Athens, Ga.
Two days later, Barnhill shut the door on previously top-ranked Florida State during the final two innings in front of a Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium record crowd of 2,547. She didn't allow a hit and struck out three during that span to the nation's leading team in batting average.
The Marietta, Ga. native capped her impressive week with back-to-back complete-games Friday and Sunday against Kentucky where she struck out 15 each time. In the series finale, she retired 21 out of the 22 batters she faced on the way to her second no-hitter of her career. Oh, and the 15 strikeouts in each game against Kentucky were both season-highs for the Wildcats.
"It feels amazing to be selected for all of these awards, but what's more important is that the Gators won the weekend series with good defense and timely hitting against a tough SEC opponent." Barnhill said. "I am truly humbled by the awards, there are many great pitchers and players in this game and to be chosen for each of these is a great honor. My performance would have not been possible without my pitching coach and my catcher Janell Wheaton; with Janell behind the plate, my job gets a little easier."
The last time a Florida player received either national award was when senior Delanie Gourley earned the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week March 3, 2015 and USA Softball Player of the Week just last season April 19.
"I am very proud of Kelly and her performance last week to help lead us to four wins over Top 25 opponents, including a win over the No. 1 team." Florida Head Coach Tim Walton said. "A special thank you to the NFCA and USA Softball in recognizing how valuable Kelly was to her team last week."
So, have a day Kelly Barnhill or better yet have a week.
The Gators return to action this Wednesday with a midweek contest against in-state foe UCF at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, which is slated to start at 6 p.m.
It's the first time in program history that a Florida player has earned all three awards in the same week and the first time a Gator pitcher was named SEC Pitcher of the Week three times in a single season since Stacy Nelson accomplished the feat in 2009.
Barnhill, the nation's leader in ERA (0.19), started her week with a complete-game victory in the series finale against then-No. 19 Georgia (4/10). She dealt the Bulldogs 14 strikeouts to complete the series sweep, which was a season-high for the team out of Athens, Ga.
Two days later, Barnhill shut the door on previously top-ranked Florida State during the final two innings in front of a Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium record crowd of 2,547. She didn't allow a hit and struck out three during that span to the nation's leading team in batting average.
The Marietta, Ga. native capped her impressive week with back-to-back complete-games Friday and Sunday against Kentucky where she struck out 15 each time. In the series finale, she retired 21 out of the 22 batters she faced on the way to her second no-hitter of her career. Oh, and the 15 strikeouts in each game against Kentucky were both season-highs for the Wildcats.
"It feels amazing to be selected for all of these awards, but what's more important is that the Gators won the weekend series with good defense and timely hitting against a tough SEC opponent." Barnhill said. "I am truly humbled by the awards, there are many great pitchers and players in this game and to be chosen for each of these is a great honor. My performance would have not been possible without my pitching coach and my catcher Janell Wheaton; with Janell behind the plate, my job gets a little easier."
The last time a Florida player received either national award was when senior Delanie Gourley earned the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week March 3, 2015 and USA Softball Player of the Week just last season April 19.
"I am very proud of Kelly and her performance last week to help lead us to four wins over Top 25 opponents, including a win over the No. 1 team." Florida Head Coach Tim Walton said. "A special thank you to the NFCA and USA Softball in recognizing how valuable Kelly was to her team last week."
So, have a day Kelly Barnhill or better yet have a week.
The Gators return to action this Wednesday with a midweek contest against in-state foe UCF at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, which is slated to start at 6 p.m.
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