Through 28 games this season, Long Beach State freshman pitcher Erin Jones-Wesley has put her team on her back on numerous occasions, and Monday the Big West Conference took notice once again.
The freshman ace took home the Big West Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season. Jones-Wesley claimed the honor after collecting a pair of victories last weekend at the Judi Garman Tournament in Fullerton.
The Alta Loma, Calif. native first led the 49ers to a 2-1 victory over DePaul on Friday, giving up just one run on six hits in six innings pitched, while striking out five batters.
But the freshman hurler hasn’t just been mowing down opponents with her arm. She’s been exceptional with the bat, as well. Jones-Wesley delivered the game-winning RBI in the fourth inning against DePaul after her single drove in teammate Liz Javier for the eventual victory.
If that weren’t enough, she followed up Friday’s performance with a one-hit complete-game shutout of Illinois on Sunday in a 1-0 victory. Jones-Wesley struck out four Fighting Illini batters and didn’t see her bid for her third no-hitter of the season end until a leadoff single in the sixth inning.
For the week, Jones-Wesley pitched in four games — two of which came in relief — allowing just one run on seven hits to go with 11 strikeouts and a stellar 0.47 ERA.
Thus far, Jones-Wesley has allowed just 23 runs — 19 of which were earned — in 83 innings pitched this season, while striking out 79 and walking 30.
She earned her previous two Big West Pitcher of the Week honors after the first weekend of the season when she shut out Boise State, 2-0, twice, and after the Cathedral City Classic in February when she earned a victory over then-No. 6-ranked Oklahoma.
Jones-Wesley will head into this week’s two doubleheaders with a 9-3 record and a 1.60 ERA.
The ‘Niners will face Ohio on Wednesday before taking on Canisius on Friday at the 49ers Softball Complex. Both pairs of contests are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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