Eckermann Collects Big 12 Honors

NORMAN, Okla. The No. 5 Oklahoma softball team, moving up a spot in this week's poll, added another Big 12 honor on Tuesday as junior pitcher Lauren Eckermann was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the games of Feb. 26-March 4. It marks OU's second honor in as many weeks as Mariee Mena picked up Big 12 and National Player of the Week last week.

Eckermann was perfect in the circle this weekend as the junior transfer recorded a 0.00 ERA in three starts, while pitching no-hitters against Temple and Wichita State. The Brenham, Texas native allowed four hits in 17 innings while holding opponents to a .070 batting average.

Eckermann's consecutive no-hitters marked the first time a Sooner has posted no-hit outings in back-to-back starts. Additionally, Eckermann opened the week with a win over Arkansas. Through three complete games, Eckermann struck out 16 and walked two batters to improve her record to 12-0 this season.

The Big 12 leader in wins (12-0) owns a 1.19 ERA this season and leads the staff with 59 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .190 batting average in 70.1 innings pitched. Additionally, Eckermann's two no-hitters combined with fellow OU pitcher D.J. Mathis' no-hitter this past Wednesday marked the first time a Sooner pair has recorded three no-hitters in the same week. Prior to this week, the last OU no-hitter was on April 22, 2003 (former Sooner Kami Keiter).

Eckermann and the Sooners return to the diamond this Wednesday for a string of six games in four days. OU will head to Tulsa for a 6 p.m. meeting against the Golden Hurricane on Wednesday night before hosting Evansville at the OU Softball Complex on Thursday night at 6 p.m. The Sooners will wrap up the week with the OU/Worth Invitational (March 9-10) at the OU Softball Complex.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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