SHAWNEE – A day after being named the Great American Conference Pitcher of the Week, Kayleigh Jones has been tabbed the Wilson/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Pitcher of the Week, the committee announced on Tuesday afternoon.
It is the second time Jones has received the national honor in her career, becoming the first to do so in OBU's Division II era. Dating back to 2017, only six pitchers from the GAC have been recognized for the award, but none have earned it twice until Jones. Furthermore, Oklahoma Baptist is tied with Southern Arkansas with two recognitions.
The accomplishment comes as no surprise following a nearly perfect weekend at the MSU Round-Up. In four appearances, she fanned 34 batters without surrendering a single earned run for a 0.00 ERA. Jones pitched two complete games against Cameron and Rockhurst while charting relief work versus Fort Hays State and Midwestern State to earn three wins.
In Friday's inaugural game versus FHSU, Jones came in late to struck out one of the two batters she faced started before producing eight strikeouts and one unearned run against Cameron.
On Saturday, she put down 25 more batters across contests against Rockhurst and Midwestern State. In the finale against MSU, Jones lifted the Bison to victory in the 10th, striking out the last three Mustang batters.
Jones' 64 strikeouts this season leads Division II, while her six wins (6-0) are tied for the most in the country.
Jones and the Bison return to action this weekend at the Emporia State Classic in Kansas.
