MACON, Ga. (April 16, 2007) - Freshman Marissa Hardy (Rocklin, Calif.) was named Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week Monday afternoon after she earned both wins for the Bucs this past weekend in Jacksonville.  

Hardy improved to 3-0 on the season as she helped guide the Bucs to a pair of victories Friday night against the Dolphins.  The Rocklin, Calif. native, made two relief appearances Friday, allowing two runs on six hits in 6.2 IP, while retiring nine Jacksonville hitters on strikes. The freshman hurler tossed three scoreless innings in game two against the Dolphins, and recorded a season-high seven strikeouts.  Those two wins briefly put the Bucs atop the A-Sun standings.  Hardy added 2.2 scoreless innings in game one at North Florida on Saturday, extending her consecutive scoreless streak to 5.2 IP. 

Hardy, an Interdisciplinary Studies major, becomes the first ETSU student-athlete to receive Pitcher of the Week honors since the Bucs joined the A-Sun.

The Atlantic Sun Conference hands out Player and Pitcher of the Week awards weekly during the 2007 softball campaign.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.