NEW ORLEANS, La. — Texas State freshman right-handed pitcher Jessica Mullins and senior shortstop Tara Oltmann have been named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon. 

This marks the second time in school history that the Texas State softball program has swept the conference's weekly awards after ArieAnn Bell (Player) and Dalilah Barrera (Pitcher) did so on March, 10, 2020. 

"Tara is the hardest working player I have ever coached. Her approach to the game last week was so fun to watch," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard, whose team went 6-2 last week. "Getting to start your career with a no-hitter doesn't happen very often, so for Mullins to be able to keep her emotions under control this week was a huge part of her success."

For the week, Mullins, in six pitching appearances, went 2-2 in the circle with three complete games, one shutout, 24 strikeouts, a .179 opponent batting average and 1.22 earned run average in 28.2 innings pitch.  

Mullins picked up her first career win in her collegiate debut when she became the first Texas State freshman pitcher to throw a seven-inning no-hitter since Randi Rupp no-hit ULM on March 23, 2015 when she tossed seven no-hit innings in the Bobcats' season-opening win over Abilene Christian. Mullins went to the circle two days later and threw a career-long 7.2 innings without allowing an earned run at No. 7 Texas. 

Mullins was credited with her first career save when she capped the Bobcats' 4-3 win over No. 16 Mississippi State on Friday. She returned to action the following day and threw a seven-inning complete game in Texas State's 2-1 win over Ole Miss. 

Oltmann delivered consistently defensive and offensively for the Bobcats as the senior batted .364 in eight games and led the team with three home runs, nine runs batted in, 17 total bases, six runs scored, .773 slugging percentage and two sacrifice flies. 

Oltmann recorded three multi-RBI games and delivered multi-hit performances against No. 16 Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Her two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth in game one against the Bulldogs on Friday, Feb. 26 tied the game. She returned in game two to hit another home run against the visitors. 

Oltmann enters Wednesday's doubleheader at Texas Tech riding a five-game hitting streak following her performances last week. She's recorded at least one hit in six of the Bobcats' eight games this season.