Donnie Gobourne Named NFCA All-Region Second Team

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – South Carolina pitcher Donnie Gobourne was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Southeast Region Second Team as announced Thursday afternoon (May 18).

The award honor softball student-athletes from the Association’s 10 regions with first, second and third-team selections. NFCA member head coaches from each respective region nominated student-athletes (eight maximum) and voted for the teams. All awarded student-athletes now become eligible for the 2023 NFCA Division I All-America squads.

Gobourne becomes the first non-DP pitcher to be named All-Region for the Gamecocks since Megan Matthews in 2002. It’s the third postseason accolade for Gobourne after being named All-SEC First Team and to the SEC All-Tournament team. During the SEC Tournament, she earned all three of Carolina’s wins. Over 16 2-3 innings in four games, she did not allow a run. She struck out 24 batters, while opponents hit .145, allowing eight hits. Gobourne earned several wins on the season over national ranked opponents, including No. 4 Tennessee, No. 11 Florida, No. 13 Georgia, No. 14 LSU, No. 14 Auburn (twice), and No. 23 Texas A&M.

Gobourne threw her first career no-hitter against #17 Auburn on April 29. It was the first no-hitter for Carolina in SEC play since Matthews in 2002. She was selected 17th overall in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch Draft on April 17 by the Oklahoma City Spark, the first Gamecock drafted professionally since 2013. Gobourne carried a no-hit bid down to the last strike in the top of the seventh in against #11 Florida, before surrendering a hit. She finished with a career-high 15 strikeouts, the first Carolina pitcher to record 15 in a game since 2007.

For seven straight weeks Gobourne led Division I in strikeouts per 7 innings. She currently ranks fourth (11.0) and ranks 27th in total strikeouts with 189. She also ranks 18th in saves (5) and 18th in hits per 7 innings (4.06).

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