April 25, 2011

by Koby Padgett
Assistant Media Relations Director

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the second-consecutive week, Gamecock pitcher Julie Sarratt earned the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week award for softball, the league office announced today.

Sarratt won both of her starts on the week with complete games, starting with a three-hit effort against Charlotte. After throwing an inning on Saturday against No. 20/16 Kentucky, she came back to toss eight on Sunday in the victory. She scattered eight hits and three earned runs over the eight innings before giving herself the win with her walkoff double in the bottom of the eighth. It was the Gamecocks’ first win over a ranked team in 14 tries in 2011. She also added a hit in the win over the 49ers.

Joining Sarratt as award winners this week are Florida’s Kelsey Bruder as Player of the Week and LSU’s Brittany Mack as Pitcher of the Week.

Sarratt is the first player this season to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times, having also picked up the season’s first certificate, and the third person in history to attain the feat, matching Alabama’s Charlotte Morgan and Kayla Braud in 2007 and 2010, respectively.

The Gamecocks take the midweek off before hosting No. 8/9 Florida in a three-game series starting on Friday.