Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Willis Named SEC Co-Pitcher Of The Week
March 15, 2022 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Mississippi State's Annie Willis has been named the SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday. It is her second career honor from the conference after also winning the award in 2020.
The graduate student from Huntsville, Alabama, threw 8.0 scoreless innings this weekend on the road against then-No. 4 Florida while striking out 10 hitters.
On Sunday, Willis led MSU to its first win over a top-five team since 2019 with a complete-game shutout of the Gators. She is the only pitcher this season to blank Florida, which entered the weekend with the nation's No. 2 scoring offense, averaging 7.86 runs per game, and leading the nation in total hits. She did it while collecting a season-high nine strikeouts.
Willis is the first Bulldog pitcher to shut out a top-five team since 2014 when Alexis Silkwood held then-No. 4 Tennessee scoreless. The win was also MSU's first shutout against Florida since 2005.
The right-hander wasn't finished though. She entered in relief in the series finale on Monday night and retired all three batters she faced on just nine pitches, picking up a 10th strikeout. She is tied for second in the conference in strikeouts in league play after one weekend.
Her efforts over the past week lowered Willis' ERA to 1.69 on the year, and she holds a 2-2 record. Willis now boasts 10 career shutouts and 30 complete games. Her next strikeout will be her 275th in a Bulldog uniform.
Mississippi State (16-10, 1-2 SEC) will host Ole Miss for its SEC home opener on March 18-20. First pitches are set for 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and noon CT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
The graduate student from Huntsville, Alabama, threw 8.0 scoreless innings this weekend on the road against then-No. 4 Florida while striking out 10 hitters.
On Sunday, Willis led MSU to its first win over a top-five team since 2019 with a complete-game shutout of the Gators. She is the only pitcher this season to blank Florida, which entered the weekend with the nation's No. 2 scoring offense, averaging 7.86 runs per game, and leading the nation in total hits. She did it while collecting a season-high nine strikeouts.
Willis is the first Bulldog pitcher to shut out a top-five team since 2014 when Alexis Silkwood held then-No. 4 Tennessee scoreless. The win was also MSU's first shutout against Florida since 2005.
The right-hander wasn't finished though. She entered in relief in the series finale on Monday night and retired all three batters she faced on just nine pitches, picking up a 10th strikeout. She is tied for second in the conference in strikeouts in league play after one weekend.
Her efforts over the past week lowered Willis' ERA to 1.69 on the year, and she holds a 2-2 record. Willis now boasts 10 career shutouts and 30 complete games. Her next strikeout will be her 275th in a Bulldog uniform.
Mississippi State (16-10, 1-2 SEC) will host Ole Miss for its SEC home opener on March 18-20. First pitches are set for 6 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and noon CT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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