Feb. 16, 2010
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State junior Samantha Beasley (San Diego/Steele Canyon HS) has been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. It is the fifth career pitcher of the week award for Beasley.
Beasley, a 2009 all-MWC performer, helped the Aztecs to a 5-1 record at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Beasley went 4-0 with a 0.31 ERA over 22 1/3 innings. She struck out 32 with five walks, while limiting her opponents to 10 hits (seven singles) and a .133 batting average. All four of her victories came against teams who were receiving votes in one of the two national polls.
Beasley began her work in the circle in a relief role, coming into the Creighton game on Thursday with the score tied at 3-3. She went on to toss three innings of hitless ball with six strikeouts and two walks as SDSU went onto win the game, 5-3.
On Friday, Beasley picked up the win in a pair of San Diego State victories over 2009 NCAA tournament teams, tossing 11 1/3 combined innings without allowing an earned run. She struck out 14 with two walks and gave up just five singles. On the day, her opponents batted just .135 (5-for-37) against her. In the first game, Beasley tossed a five-hit shutout with strikeouts in San Diego State's 4-0 win over Kentucky. In the nightcap against Purdue, Beasley pitched the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing no hits and an unearned run. Nine of her 13 recorded outs were strikeouts as the Aztecs defeated the Boilermakers, 7-6, in 10 innings.
Beasley wrapped up her stellar weekend on Saturday against Oregon, scattering three runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk over eight innings. She struck out 11 batters in SDSU's 4-3 come-from-behind victory in eight innings.
San Diego State plays host to the 20th annual Campbell-Cartier Classic this weekend beginning with a game against UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Aztecs, who are once again receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball national polls, were featured in an Graham Hays ESPN.com article yesterday that can be viewed here