College Softball News

Miller Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA co-National Player of the Week

(Photo Courtesy of USC Upstate Athletics)

Spartanburg, S.C. – Following a monumental week when she tossed two no-hitters in back-to-back starts, USC Upstate senior Anna Miller has been named the Lousiville Slugger/NFCA co-National Player of the Week by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Miller shared this week’s honor with UCLA pitcher/utility player Abby Carda. In addition to earning co-player of the week honors from the NFCA, Miller also earned National Pitcher of the Week honors from College Sports Madness.

“We have a great defense that no matter what you throw, they have your back,” said Miller. “With that confidence, you can throw your best stuff and if they hit it, the defense is going to be there. There are no worries. You can just throw your heart out.”

Miller, from Portland, Ore., made program history, becoming the first pitcher in the history of the Upstate program to toss no-hitters in back-to-back starts. She struck out a career-high 14 batters in seven innings in the Spartans’ 1-0 victory in game two of the doubleheader sweep at Gardner-Webb on Feb. 19. The only blemish on her line was a walk allowed in the second inning. Three days later, she struck out 12 batters in the 8-0 victory over Liberty (Feb. 22) in six innings for her second no-hitter of the week. She took a perfect game into the sixth inning before an error allowed the Flames’ only base runner of the game.

“I am extremely proud of Anna and am thrilled she has earned a national award like this,” said Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins. “To throw no-hitters in back-to-back starts is something rare. I have never witnessed that in all my years of coaching. It just shows how well she is pitching, working the count and locating her pitches. I am really excited where she is right now.”

Miller, who came to Upstate as a junior after transferring from the College of Siskiyous, has thrown four no-hitters in her career at Upstate. She ranks second all-time in program history behind the six no-no’s thrown by all-time great Morgan Childers. Miller was the California JUCO Pitcher of the Year in 2012 prior to transferring to the Spartan program.

In recording the two no-hitters last week and tossing four innings of no-hit ball and five innings of scoreless ball against Furman in the finale of the Spartan Classic, Miller ran her streak to 19 innings without allowing a hit, 20 innings without allowing a run and 25 innings without allowing an earned run.

Miller is the second Upstate player to earn national weekly honors from College Sports Madness this season. Shellie Robinson earned CSM’s National Player of the Week award after the opening weekend.

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