Nelson Named USA Softball National Player of the Week
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 | Softball
The Amateur Softball Association announced today the selection of Florida junior Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) as the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week for the week of March 24-30. The right-handed ace for the Gators finished the week with a 4-0 record and a 0.00 ERA. She gave up only one run, not earned, in four appearances against SEC opponents this week.
"This is an honor,” said Nelson. “My team has been making it so easy for me as a pitcher to go out in the circle each game because I know if I don't have my best stuff, their bats and defense will back me up. This isn't an individual award for me; it is a testament of how well the whole team has done."
Nelson tallied 24 strikeouts over the four shutout performances and allowed ten hits, none of which were for extra bases. In the first game against South Carolina, Nelson set a University of Florida record for career shutouts with the 28th of her career. The previous record had stood since 1998 and was set by Chelsey Sakizzie. Nelson also set the school record for career complete games with the 76th complete game of her career.
“This is a tremendous honor for Stacey and our program,” said Gator head coach Tim Walton. “We could not be more proud of Stacey as a person and as a player.”
The 5-10 hurler expanded on both records as she tossed a 7-0 shut out over No. 8 LSU on Sunday and pitched two complete games against the Tigers over the weekend. Nelson struck out 11 batters in the first game against South Carolina, her eighth double digit strikeout game of the season, and did not give up a walk. She came in the game for the final inning of the second South Carolina game with the scored tied 0-0 and struck out the final two batters to earn the win. In the two games against No. 8 LSU, Nelson gave up only six total hits.
This is the first time Nelson has been honored as the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week. It is the second national player of the week honor for a Gator player in program history as current assistant coach, Jenny Gladding, was named USA Softball National Player of the Week on April 22, 2003 after pitching a no-hitter over Tennessee.
No. 3 Florida (40-2) takes the field on Wednesday in a non-conference doubleheader against instate rival USF (29-12) at 4 p.m. The first 500 fans will receive a Gator softball courtesy of Dodge.
