MISENHEIMER — Just four games into her first collegiate season, former Richmond Senior standout Taylor Parrish has already left a mark for the Pfeiffer University softball team.
Monday, Parrish unexpectedly received word from Pfeiffer coach Monte Sherrill that she had been named Rookie Pitcher of the Week by the USA South Conference after allowing just one earned run with a 1-1 record.
“He (Sherrill) was like, ‘Congratulations,’ and I was like, ‘For what?’” Parrish recalled about the exchange. “I said, ‘Oh, wow. I had no idea.’ I was pretty shocked.”
Known for her big bat at the plate during her time at Richmond, Parrish hit 13 home runs, collected 49 RBIs with a 1.044 slugging percentage in her final season and was an NCSCA All–State selection.
Though she pitched just 10 innings in her career with the Lady Raiders, Parrish says she felt more practice inside the circle would be required if she wanted to be successful at the collegiate level. The past four offseasons, she’s worked with pitching coach Jim Christian honing her spin and speed.
“I’ve just had a really strong worth ethic because, when I want to achieve something, I try to give it all I can,” said Parrish. “Regardless of the situation I had at Richmond, I’d never let that stop me from coming to college and pitching.”
The dedication paid dividends this year as the Lady Falcons freshman got her feet wet during a scrimmage against The University of Tennessee this past fall and struck out five in five innings of work.
Last Wednesday, she had her first official start, a 2-1 loss to St. Andrews, in which she had a game-high eight strikeouts. Both runs allowed were unearned.
“I was just trying to do my best. I was nervous for the first two batters and after that, I just kind of settled in again,” she said. “We work very hard during practice, so the games are kind of like a piece of cake.”
In a doubleheader sweep of Guilford on Sunday, Parrish collected her first win and save by tossing 8 and 1/3 innings and allowing one run with six strikeouts.
Sunday, she came in as a reliever and struck out the final batter in the seventh inning to beat Guilford, 5-3. In the second half of the doubleheader, Parrish went 5 and 2/3 and again notched a punchout in the seventh to gain a 4-2 victory.
Overall, Parrish has posted a team-low 0.46 ERA with a team-high 14 strikeouts and just two walks.
“I’m a spin pitcher. I like to throw my rise ball a lot, my curve and my drop,” said Parrish. “Those have been my go-to pitches so far.”
Parrish says she and her teammates are working hard in hopes of bringing home a third straight ECAC Division III championship.
Pfeiffer hits the road this upcoming weekend, playing doubleheaders at Agnes Scott (Feb. 29) and Wesleyan (Mar. 1).
