Nickie Blue Claims SEC Freshman of the Week Honor

Feb. 24, 2014

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference selected Gamecock pitcher Nickie Blue as its softball Freshman of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.

Blue went 2-0 and picked up two saves in five appearances on the week, tossing her first career shutout in the process. The Longmont, Colo., native did not allow a run and struck out 16 batters in 15 innings of work, including a five-inning shutout of Michigan State for the first time in her burgeoning collegiate résumé. She also won the Charlotte game in relief and got saves over Boston University and UNC Wilmington, striking out the first five batters she faced in the latter outing.

Blue is the 10th Gamecock all-time to claim the freshman award, joining teammates Dana Hathorn and Kristen Struett once each and Julie Sarratt on three occasions.

The SEC honored both Arkansas’s Clarisa Navarro and Geri Ann Glasco as co-players of the week with Tennessee’s Ellen Renfroe taking the pitcher of the week certificate.

South Carolina plays host to Western Carolina in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. EDT on Tuesday at Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field.