Northwestern, Michigan and Penn State Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards
Wildcats’ Robinson, Wolverines’ Derkowski and Nittany Lions’ Nemeth claim weekly honors
Player of the Week
Kansas Robinson, Northwestern
So. – 2B – Indianapolis, Ind. – Ben Davis – Major: Learning and Organizational Change
- Led Northwestern in hits (9), batting average (.750), slugging percentage (1.583), on-base percentage (.778), home runs (3) and runs scored (5) during a 5-0 week for the Wildcats
- Batted 1.000 (6-for-6) throughout Northwestern’s series vs. Michigan State and reached based in 10-of-11 plate appearances
- Homered in all three of the Wildcats’ games vs. Michigan State, combining for 16 total bases
- Recorded three hits and a run scored in a 7-1 win over DePaul
- Reached base four times in Saturday’s 7-1 win over the Spartans, going 1-for-2 with three walks, two runs scored and a solo home run
- Went 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run and three RBI in an 11-3 run-rule win over MSU on Sunday
- Hit a leadoff home run in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader and hit another solo home run in the second game en route to a 4-0 win
- Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Hannah Cady (May 2, 2022)
Pitcher of the Week
Lauren Derkowski, Michigan
Jr. – RHP – Elmhurst, Ill. – York Community – Major: Industrial and Operations Engineering
- Posted a 3-0 record over the Wolverines’ last four games with a 0.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 20 total innings
- Tossed a complete game, three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in Michigan’s home opener against Oakland
- Added eight hits apiece in two games against Purdue
- Threw six innings to combine for another shutout in the series opener against the Boilermakers
- Last Michigan Pitcher of the Week: Lauren Derkowski (April 17, 2023)
Freshman of the Week
Bridget Nemeth, Penn State
RHP – Glendora, Calif. – Glendora – Major: Agribusiness Management
- Earned all three winning decisions for Penn State in the Nittany Lions’ sweep of Indiana to open Big Ten play
- Tossed 16.0 innings over three appearances against the Hoosiers, tallying eight strikeouts to turn in a weekend-long ERA of 1.31
- Tossed a complete game in the weekend-opening pitcher’s duel and came in to toss six innings in the second game of the series
- Finished the weekend with an opponent batting average of .161
- Owns a 13-0 overall record in her collegiate career
- Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Bridget Nemeth (Feb. 26, 2024)
2024 Big Ten Softball Honorees
Feb. 12
PL: Katie Wingert, Gr., RU
P: Bridget Nemeth, Fr., PSU
F: Jasmyn Burns, OSU
Feb. 19
PL: Britain Beshears, So., MSU
Sydney Gray, Sr., NEB
P: Brianna Copeland, Jr., IND
F: Jaeya Butler, MSU
Feb. 26
PL: Billie Andrews, Sr., NEB
P: Ashley Miller, Gr., NU
F: Bridget Nemeth, PSU
March 4
PL: Kaitlyn Morrison, R-Sr., PSU
P: Liv Grey, Gr., MSU
F: Ashlynn Campbell, PUR
March 11
PL: Sydney Gray, Sr., NEB
P: Courtney Wyche, MD
F: Jasmyn Burns, OSU
March 18
PL: Billie Andrews, Sr., NEB
P: Ashley Miller, Gr., NU
F: Jenissa Conway, MICH
March 26
PL: Kansas Robinson, So., NU
P: Lauren Derkowski, Jr., MICH
F: Bridget Nemeth, PSU