ASHLAND – The 2025 NAIA Pitcher of the Year, Ayla Davies, is the 2026 season's first NAIA Pitcher of the Week.

Southern Oregon's electric sophomore right-hander picked up over the weekend where she left off last spring, going 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA, and was rewarded in turn with top national honors, the NAIA office announced Tuesday.

Davies – who went 38-5 with a 1.20 ERA as a freshman on her way to the World Series MVP award – won her first three decisions in consecutive complete games during top-ranked SOU's season-opening trip. She allowed one earned run over five innings at Vanguard, no runs in eight innings at No. 21 Hope International, and three runs in seven innings at Westcliff.

Davies took her first loss Monday in a six-hitter at Biola, which fell outside of the awards period. Overall, she stands at 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA, having registered 24 strikeouts compared to four walks in 26 innings.

The shutout at Hope International was the 20th of her career. Her total of 19 last year was the fourth-highest in NAIA single-season history.

Davies and the Raiders (6-2) are back in action Friday at Jessup (Calif.).