LOUISVILLE, Ky. --- An incredible start to the 2022 campaign has Paige Austin already gathering national recognition. Through the opening weekend for Biola softball, Austin dominated opposing offenses on the way to a PacWest weekly honor on Monday and an NFCA National Pitcher of the Week award, as announced on Tuesday. 

Head coach Kristin Halte was thoroughly impressed with her ace's start to 2022, "Obviously, Paige has done a phenomenal job. It's great to have someone we can rely on and we couldn't ask for anything better."

Three-straight days of competition for the Eagles meant three-straight days on the rubber for Paige Austin. The senior took advantage of each opportunity, earning the win in each appearance for a 3-0 start to the year. Through those three wins, Austin offered 22.2 innings with two total runs allowed.

"This is her best start to a season since she joined the Eagles," added Halte. 'She has been lights out throughout the tournament. She is also a leader for this team, on and off the field."

The fantastic start to 2022 brought a program record to her list of accolades, as the righty became the Biola softball leader for career strikeouts on Thursday. In a one-hitter against Northwest Nazarene, Austin put up a career-best 17 strikeouts to surpass 580 for her career. The dominance did not stop there, as she tacked on two more double-digit strikeout performances on Friday and Saturday.

BU will return home in its next competition, taking on Westcliff in a doubleheader on Friday.