Smith, a sophomore from Elkton, Va., threw a pair of complete-game shutouts in three appearances for the Royals during their 3-1 week.  She opened the week with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief work in game one against Randolph.  She gave up one hit and fanned a batter during that outing.  In game two, she went a full seven innings, working around five hits and an uncustomary six walks without giving up a run.  She also struck out one in the 2-0 victory.  Smith finished her week a five-inning run-shortened performance in which she game up just four hits and fanned three in a 9-0 win over Sweet Briar.  Smith was also solid at the dish as she batted 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles, two homers, nine RBI and five runs scored.

Softball Pitching Honor Roll

Jessica Burcham, Guilford, Senior, Pitcher
Burcham went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in two complete-game appearances last week… held opponents to a .231 batting average… matched her season high with nine strikeouts in a 3-1 loss to N.C. Wesleyan… gave up six hits and one walk in the loss… earned her team-leading sixth win of the year against Ferrum… gave up only one earned run and struck out three in seven innings. 

Aven Thomas, Bridgewater, Junior, Pitcher
Thomas was solid on the week, going 2-0 in the circle to help lead the Bridgewater Eagles softball team to a 3-1 week. Thomas allowed two runs on seven hits in Bridgewater's 6-2 win at Lynchburg before tossing a one-hit shutout on Friday afternoon in Bridgewater's 23-0 victory over Sweet Briar. Thomas fanned eight batters in each game to record 16 strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.

Kelly Beard, Randolph-Macon, Junior, Pitcher
Beard helped the Yellow Jackets go 4-0 on the week, earning two wins.  Against Mary Washington, Beard tossed a complete game allowing just two earned runs while striking out two and walking none in an 11-4 win.  She worked 5.2 innings to get the victory against Emory & Henry, 9-5, in her second outing.