Balint Named Finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year
04/20/17 | Softball
RHP Maggie Balint is one of 25 finalists for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award.
EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon pitcher Maggie Balint is one of 25 finalists for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award, the organization announced Thursday.
In her first collegiate season, the West Grove, Pa., native ranks seventh overall in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 with a 0.86 ERA, the best of any freshman in the country. The next best freshman is Balint's teammate, Miranda Elish, who owns a 1.49 ERA and ranks No. 37 overall in the NCAA. Balint also ranks No. 23 in the NCAA, averaging 8.8 strikeouts per seven innings. Balint leads the Ducks with 16 wins and 123 strikeouts this season.
Balint is one of seven finalists from the Pac-12, the most of any conference in the country.
The award was created in 2014 from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Div. I freshmen. In the inaugural year, Auburn's Kasey Cooper and Tennessee's Annie Aldrete, were co-winners. Oklahoma's Paige Parker took home the honor in 2015 and Florida's Amanda Lorenz captured the award in 2016.
This weekend Balint and the No. 6 ranked Ducks visit No. 3 ranked Arizona for a three-game series starting Friday.
In her first collegiate season, the West Grove, Pa., native ranks seventh overall in the NCAA and second in the Pac-12 with a 0.86 ERA, the best of any freshman in the country. The next best freshman is Balint's teammate, Miranda Elish, who owns a 1.49 ERA and ranks No. 37 overall in the NCAA. Balint also ranks No. 23 in the NCAA, averaging 8.8 strikeouts per seven innings. Balint leads the Ducks with 16 wins and 123 strikeouts this season.
Balint is one of seven finalists from the Pac-12, the most of any conference in the country.
The award was created in 2014 from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Div. I freshmen. In the inaugural year, Auburn's Kasey Cooper and Tennessee's Annie Aldrete, were co-winners. Oklahoma's Paige Parker took home the honor in 2015 and Florida's Amanda Lorenz captured the award in 2016.
This weekend Balint and the No. 6 ranked Ducks visit No. 3 ranked Arizona for a three-game series starting Friday.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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RHP
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