Kelsey Nunley Named Co-SEC Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 9, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky junior pitcher Kelsey Nunley continues to add to her list of awards as the native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., has been named the Co-Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week by the league office after a dominating opening weekend for the Wildcats. Nunley shares the honor with Alabama’s Sydney Littlejohn.
Nunley, who was named SEC Pitcher of the Week last season as well, becomes only the second pitcher in school history to earn the award multiple times, joining UK star Chanda Bell, who claimed the honor twice during the 2012 season. Nunley is the only pitcher in program history to win the award in two different seasons.
The right-handed pitcher had a great first weekend for Kentucky, tossing 13 innings in the circle, allowing no earned runs and only three hits with 10 strikeouts. Nunley helped Kentucky earn a key top-five victory over No. 5 Florida State, who won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship last season and advanced to the 2014 Women’s College World Series.
In the victory over the Seminoles, who had 24 hits as a team over the weekend with five doubles, one triple, three homers and 14 RBI, Nunley went the distance allowing just two hits – neither of which left the infield – with one unearned run allowed and three strikeouts. After allowing the unearned run in the third inning, Nunley retired 13 of the last 15 Seminoles that came to the plate to seal the Wildcat victory.
Nunley went six innings for Kentucky against Georgia Southern, who won the 2014 SoCon Regular Season Championship, allowing just one hit and retiring 16 straight batters to end the game. Against the Eagles, Nunley also recorded the first RBI of her career with a two-run single.
Nunley’s strong weekend inched her closer to several UK career records as the junior now sits 59-22 in her career, just nine wins shy of tying the school record for career wins. Nunley’s career ERA of 1.96 currently ranks first in program history, while her .211 career opponent batting average is second all-time.
Kentucky will return to action Friday when it travels to Kennesaw, Ga., to play five games in three days in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Invitational. All five games will be played at Bailey Park on the campus of Kennesaw State. UK will play SIU and Morehead State on Friday and Kennesaw State and IUPUI on Saturday. Sunday will be a bracketed game based on previous results.
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