Senior Jessica Smith has earned the first Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor of her career.Senior Jessica Smith has earned the first Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor of her career.

Jessica Smith Named the Big Ten's Pitcher of the Week

March 7, 2011

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Senior Jessica Smith (Encinitas, Calif./La Costa Canyon) has been named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week following her 2-0 performance at the DeMarini Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton last weekend.

Smith earned two complete-game victories at the event, beginning with a 9.0-inning win over No. 11 California. Smith did not allow a run during regulation to send the game into extra frames, where the Wildcats were able to pull out a 3-2 victory. Twice during the game, Smith escaped runner-on-third-and-no-out situations unscathed. She also fanned a career-high nine in the contest.

Smith then went the distance in a 3-2 win over another Pac-10 program, Oregon State. She matched her newly established career-high strikeout total in the 7.0-inning effort.

The honor is the first of Smith's career.

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