Francis Marion University Athletics

Senior right-handed pitcher Jenna Walling of the Francis Marion University softball team has been named the McDonald’s Student-Athlete of the Week for the period of Feb. 9-15.

A native of Johns Island, S.C., Walling posted a 4-0 mark in four circle appearances with a 0.32 ERA.  She allowed only 12 hits and one earned run in 21.2 innings of work, while striking out 17 and walking no one.  Opponents batted only .158 against her.  At the plate, she hit two homers and drove in six runs, including a walk-off two-run homer to beat Ferris State University on Feb. 14.

Her week included beating Coker University 6-0 on the road with 2-hit shutout that saw her fan nine batters.  She beat Ferris State 10-2 on Feb. 13 with a 6-hitter when she allowed no earned runs and had four strikeouts.  On Feb. 14, she beat Ferris State 5-3 in relief after hitting a walk-off 2-run homer and then she beat Tusculum 5-1 with a 3-hitter and four strikeouts.

With her win at Coker, she became only the third pitcher in program history to reach 60 career wins.

The 10th-ranked Patriots (9-1) will host Catawba College for a doubleheader on Wednesday at 3 p.m., before hosting the Patriot Invitational Tournament on Saturday and Sunday with three games each day.


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