LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UW-Stevens Point freshman pitcher Morgan Harwood (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) has been named a finalist for the 2024 Tucci/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Freshman of the Year, the association announced on Tuesday (May 21). Harwood represents Region VIII and is one of the 10 finalists.
 
NFCA Release
 
Harwood this season garnered NFCA Region VIII first-team honors. She was named the WIAC Pitcher of the Year and WIAC Newcomer of the Year and was an All-WIAC first-team selection. In April, she was awarded the WIAC Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 22-28.
 
She tossed consecutive no-hitters this season. The first was a combined effort with Ashley Zygowski (Saukville, Wis./Port Washington) as Harwood tossed 5.0 hitless in the start versus St. Scholastica on March 29. In her next start, she tossed a complete-game no-hitter in a five-inning run-rule win over St. Norbert on April 9.
 
Harwood had a 12.0 inning hitless streak from March 21 to April 10.  She also tossed eight-consecutive outings against league foes from April 20 to May 3 without allowing a run against.
 
For the season, Harwood was 14-3 with a 1.04 earned run average. She also converted three saves. She struck out 122 batters in 101.1 innings pitched. She only gave up earned runs in eight of her 30 appearances on the year. She struck out double-digit batters twice, including a season-high 12 in a 5.0 inning start at Rockford on April 10.
 
Harwood led the Pointers to the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007. The Pointers went 32-9, the fifth-most victories in a season in program history.