The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 11 Softball’s O’Leary named Softball America Freshman Pitcher of the Year
08.19.2019 | Softball
The rookie hurler from Castaic, Calif., led all of NCAA Division I in ERA at 0.65
AUSTIN, Texas – Chalk up another accolade for No. 11 Texas softball's Shealyn O'Leary as the 6-2 rookie standout was announced on Monday as Softball America's Freshman Pitcher of the Year for the 2019 campaign.
A top 10 finalist for the 2019 Schutt Sports/NFCA National Freshman of the Year award as well as a Softball America Honorable Mention All-American and an All-Big 12 Conference Second Team choice, O'Leary made quite an impression from the circle during her initial campaign on the Forty Acres. The Castaic, Calif., native led all of NCAA Division I in ERA (0.65) to go along with a 14-3 overall record, nine complete games, four solo shutouts and 65 strikeouts over 97.2 innings of work with a perfect game and a no-hitter.
She became the first Texas freshman to toss a perfect game since the legendary Cat Osterman back in 2002, needing just 63 pitches to retire all 21 batters she faced in a 2-0 win at Baylor (March 27). O'Leary also fired a no-hitter on March 6 in a 9-1 (5 inn.) rout of Longwood, became the first UT pitcher to start 11-0 since Blaire Luna back in 2013, registered a streak of 42.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run and tossed an "immaculate inning" of three strikeouts on nine straight strikes during a win over Sam Houston State. Among her numerous pitching triumphs in 2019 were wins over NCAA Tournament teams Sam Houston State, Tulsa, Ole Miss, Longwood, No. 6/5 Tennessee (road) and No. 5/4 Alabama (road during NCAA Tuscaloosa Super Regional).
