Graduate student Jenna Walling of the Francis Marion University softball team has been named the McDonald’s Student-Athlete of the Week for the period of Mar. 23-29, 2026.
A native of Johns Island, S.C., Walling went 4-0 with a save and a 0.23 earned run average in six appearances in the circle. She registered four complete games and logged 30.0 innings, while allowing only 24 hits, one earned run, and four walks against 25 strikeouts.
In game one at UNCP, she pitched a six-hitter (0 earned runs) with a walk and three strikeouts, only to follow that up with a four-hitter (0 earned runs) with no walks and five strikeouts in game two. In game one at Barton, she tossed a seven-hitter in eight innings with no earned runs allowed, one walk, and 10 strikeouts to become the first Division II pitcher to reach 20 wins this season (and only the second Patriot hurler to record three 20-win seasons in a career). In the second contest at Barton, she was credited a save after securing the final out with the tying on base. That was her seventh career save tying the FMU all-time record. In the opener at Chowan, she tossed a four-hitter (1 earned run) with two walks and five strikeouts. In that contest, she had a streak of 37.0 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run snapped. In game two at Chowan, she pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief with two strikeouts.
At the plate, she also batted .235 with a run scored, three doubles, and five RBIs.
Walling continues to lead the country (NCAA II) in wins (21), strikeouts (164), complete games (23), and innings pitched (172.0).
FMU will play a conference twinbill at the University of Mount Olive on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in its only action this week.
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