For the second straight week and the third time this season, Francis Marion University graduate student right-hander Jenna Walling has been named the Conference Carolinas softball Pitcher of the Week, this time for March 30-April 5.

A native of Johns Island, S.C., Walling pitched in both of FMU's games last week and recorded a win and a save.  She logged 7.2 innings with a 2.74 earned run average, while allowing only eight hits and four walks, and fanning four.

In first game of the conference doubleheader at the University of Mount Olive, she recorded a complete-game 6-3 win with four strikeouts, while scattering seven hits.  She posted a game-two save by getting the final two outs in a 4-3 win.  With that save, Walling set a new FMU career record (8) for that category.

Walling also went 2-for-6 at the plate versus UMO with two doubles and two runs batted in. 

She continues to lead the country in wins (22-6 mark) and strikeouts (168).  Opponents are batting only .217 against her in a nation-leading 179.2 innings works.

Francis Marion, now 33-10, moved up one position to 13th in this week's National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/GoRout NCAA Division II Top 25 coaches poll.  FMU will host its final two home doubleheaders this weekend:  Friday at 4 p.m. against Lees-McRae College and Saturday at 1 p.m. against North Greenville University.  Saturday is also Senior Day.

Walling has already earned her undergraduate degree and is part of the MBA graduate program at FMU.  She is a product of First Baptist School.


       Jenna Walling