University of Georgia Athletics
Gaskill Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week
March 18, 2008 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Kate Gaskill, who pitched a perfect game against South Carolina on March 15, was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Collegiate Player of the Week according to an announcement made by the organization on Tuesday.
“This is a phenomenal honor,” Georgia head coach Lu Harris-Champer said. “We are extremely proud of Kate. Her work ethic, heart and determination are paying off.”
Gaskill, a sophomore from of Murrieta, Calif., received the honor behind the perfect game performance against South Carolina in which she struck out a season-high 13 batters. After Gaskill had retired the first fifteen batters, the game experienced a one-hour, 34-minute tornado warning and rain delay. Upon returning to play, Gaskill retired the final six outs to record the first perfect game by a Georgia pitcher since 2004.
Gaskill becomes just the second Georgia player to earn the NFCA Collegiate Player of the Week award joining Michelle Green who earned the distinction on April 6, 2005. Gaskill was also named the Southeastern Conference’s Pitcher of the Week for a second time this season on Monday.
For the week, Gaskill went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 23 innings pitched while striking out 39 and walking just two. From the second inning versus North Florida on March 12 through the first five batters versus South Carolina on March 16, Gaskill retired 41 consecutive batters, 24 of which were strikeouts. She allowed just 10 hits in her four appearances limiting opponents to a .130 batting average.
Gaskill, who earned the win in every game in which she appeared for the week, recorded every out in three games for the Bulldogs. She entered in relief with no outs in the first inning versus North Florida and recorded all 21 outs in the game, and pitched two-complete-game shutouts over South Carolina.
Up next, the 20th-ranked Bulldogs (26-8) travel to Atlanta on Wednesday to face the Georgia State Panthers (19-6) in a double header. First pitch of the twin bill is slated for 4 p.m. ET.
