Feb. 19, 2013

Freshman pitcher Paige McDuffee (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS) of the UCLA softball team was selected as the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week for Feb. 11-17.

McDuffee tossed the 102nd no-hitter in UCLA history in just her second collegiate start on Saturday against Seattle University and finished the weekend at the Easton Desert Classic with two wins and 10 strikeouts in 10 innings.

Versus a Seattle team which had already defeated Oklahoma State and Utah twice this season, McDuffee struck out six in her second-consecutive, five-inning shutout performance. She allowed just two baserunners on a one-out walk in the first and a one-out error in the third. The freshman retired the last eight batters of the game. McDuffee had 1-2-3 innings in the second, fourth and fifth and struck out the side in the second. McDuffee continued her stellar pitching on Sunday against Ohio. She struck out four in five innings, giving up a single and a two-run homer, the only runs she has allowed in her three starts. McDuffee retired the last 13 batters she faced and had two strikeouts in both the first and fifth innings.

Through three starts, all wins, McDuffee has struck out 11 in 15 innings and limited opposing hitters to a .082 batting average, allowing only six of 51 batters to reach base.

This is McDuffee's first UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week honor of the season and of her career.

Also nominated: Kevin Kramer, Baseball; Erynne Lee, W. Golf; Shabazz Muhammad, M. Basketball; Dennis Novikov, M. Tennis; Lichelle Wong, Gymnastics; Dane Worley, M. Volleyball; Julian Wruck, M. Track & Field.