Pille Named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week

IRVING, Texas – Kansas senior pitcher Alicia Pille was awarded Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 24, as announced by the conference office Tuesday afternoon. Pille has earned the league weekly honor three times in her career and for the first time this season.

“Pille looked good,” Kansas head coach Megan Smith said after Sunday’s win over Illinois State. “Again, fatigue sets in toward the end of the weekend and she had to see the team twice, which is hard to do. She did well. We’re going to see her pitching a lot for us, she’s going to get a lot of work. She’s a tough kid and works really hard. (Sunday) she showed heart, showed toughness and came through for us.”

A native of Royse City, Texas, Pille won all three starts she made as the Jayhawks competed at the University of Florida’s Aquafina Invitational, including a 4-2 decision over Illinois State, to help Kansas set a new program record for wins to open a season at 12.

Pille fanned 10 in the win over the Redbirds on Friday, then struck out nine more Saturday in seven shutout innings against Mercer. Pille beat Illinois State a second time Sunday morning to secure a 4-1 record for Kansas at the tournament. For the weekend, Pille posted a 1.53 ERA and struck out 23 in 18.1 innings pitched.

The Jayhawks return to Florida this weekend for another tournament at North Florida in Jacksonville. Kansas will face Stony Brook, South Dakota, Siena and the tournament-host Ospreys in five games over three days at the UNF Softball Complex (Feb. 27-March 1).

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