March 3, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- UAB senior Jennifer Nelson has been named Conference USA's Pitcher of the Week for her performance this past weekend at the Magic City Classic.

The left-hander tossed three complete games on her way to a 2-1 weekend and also recorded a save in UAB's 4-3 victory over Samford. Her stellar command this weekend helped her retire 28 batters on strikes while walking three.

The weekly honor is the third that Nelson has received in her four-year career at UAB. She received the accolade once in 2006 and 2007. It is the first league honor for UAB this year.

Nelson was most dominant in her final start of the weekend as she struck out 12 batters and gave up just three hits as the Blazers defeated Columbia, 7-0. The dominant southpaw struck out nine of the first 10 batters she faced and the side in the first three innings. After allowing a hit to the game's second batter, she went on a tear. Eight of the next batters she faced all went down swinging. She allowed no walks for the first time this season.

She also guided the Blazers' effort in their 5-2 win over Alabama State, fanning nine. Her only loss came in a pitcher's dual against Georgia Southern. Nelson kept the Eagles off the base paths for giving up two hits.

Nelson also became the second player in UAB history to pass the 100-strikeout figure in each of her four seasons at UAB. She joins Kerri Foster as the only other player to accomplish the feat.

Nelson has compiled a 7-6 record this season and 2.68 ERA having appeared in 17 games. Her 116 strikeouts currently is the top figure in the league. She has three double-digit strikeout games and has fanned 13 three times.

The Morris, Ala. native is the league's active strikeout leader and ranks third all-time with 697 strikeouts.