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.