OKLAHOMA CITY — A big week in the circle for Stephen F. Austin’s freshman pitcher Kassidy Wilbur (Bridge City), including four wins during opening week of the 2019 NCAA Softball season, helped land her Week 1 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week. Announced today by USA Softball, this marks the first USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week award for both Stephen F. Austin and Wilbur, whose efforts over the week contributed to Stephen F. Austin capturing the 2019 Bulldog Kickoff Classic.
“It felt so amazing knowing that I have a team behind me willing to do anything to help win,” Wilbur said. “I knew as soon as we stepped out onto the field we were there for business, and I wasn’t going to let anyone get in our way. I couldn’t do anything without my amazing team behind me making plays. Being able to pitch at the Division I level is amazing. I always like a good challenge and I knew they (Mississippi State) weren’t going down without a fight.”
In their first game against Valparaiso, Wilbur fanned 15 batters to set the program record for most strikeouts by a Ladyjack making her debut en route to a 6-2 victory. Wilbur continued that momentum the next day and tossed her second complete game, striking out six in the Ladyjack’s 7-1 win over Middle Tennessee. The right-hander entered the circle to pitch one inning of relief, striking out a pair of batters as Stephen F. Austin won in walk-off fashion, 2-1, to complete their sweep of Middle Tennessee. Despite falling to Mississippi State earlier in the tournament, Wilbur tossed her third complete game of the weekend where she struck out the side in order in the bottom of the seventh inning to clinch the Ladyjack’s 1-0 shutout of the tournament hosts.
“Congratulations to Kassidy on her hard work and nationally-recognized achievement,” said Stephen F. Austin Head Coach Nicole Dickson. “How she competes daily, trains in the bullpen and practices is exactly why she was prepared for this opening weekend. This is just who she is – competitive excellence with every rep. She makes the game simple and just goes out and executes.”
For the week, Wilbur went 4-0 with 32 strikeouts through 22 innings. The freshman right-hander also saw time at the plate, contributing with two RBI while committing zero errors in the field.
2019 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 7-10): Kassidy Wilbur – Stephen F. Austin – Freshman – Pitcher – Bridge City, Texas
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