Softball's Nelson Named SEC Pitcher of the Week
Monday, April 20, 2009 | Softball
No.1/1 University of Florida senior Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week for her outstanding performance against No. 18/19 LSU over the weekend.
Nelson (27-3) went 2-0 with a save against the Tigers, helping the Gators (46-3, 23-1 SEC) clinch their second straight SEC regular-season title. The righty did not allow LSU, which came into the series averaging 5.12 runs per conference game, to score in her 13.0 innings. She struck out 15 batters and only walked two, one in each start, on the weekend.
The Gator earned her third save of the season when she entered second game of Saturday's doubleheader, striking out two in a 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve UF's 1-0 lead and clinch the league title. With the two wins, Nelson moved into sole possession of the number nine spot in the NCAA record books and the number two spot in the SEC record books with 122 career wins.
This is the third time this season the two-time All-American earned the weekly conference award and the fifth time in her career. Nelson also holds 17 single-season and career pitching records at Florida. The senior was named a Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball's Player of the Year Award along with junior teammate Francesca Enea. She is also one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Fans can vote for Nelson for the CLASS Award online by visiting http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/softball_2009.
