NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern softball right-handed pitcher Maddie Johnson was named Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon. The award is the first for a Georgia Southern pitcher since the 2021 season. 

Johnson went 3-0 on the weekend which was highlighted by tossing Georgia Southern's first no-hitter since the 2017 season and the 19^th all-time in program history against George Mason at the UCF Charge on Classic. The freshman picked up a career high 11 strikeouts in the contest including eight of the nine batters in the Patriot lineup. Johnson did not allow a walk across seven innings. In her second victory of the weekend against Providence, Johnson allowed just two runs on two hits in the first inning before shutting gout the Friars the rest of the way only allowing three more hits in the final five frames. In the finale, Johnson was once again stellar in the circle, this time against UCF where she allowed just one run on six hits in 6.2 innings pitched. The Athens, Ga., native did threw six scoreless innings and picked up her second win over a power four school. Johnson now sits at 7-2 on the season, leading the pitching staff in all major categories. 

Johnson and Georgia Southern are back in action this weekend as it hosts Maryland and Rider in the Hail Southern Classic. The Eagles square off against Maryland at 3 p.m. before playing Rider at 5:30 p.m. at Beautiful Eagle Field. All games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.