Minnesota and Michigan Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards

Player of the Week 

Jess Oakland, Minnesota  

So. – SS – San Jose, Calif. – Saint Francis – Major: Kinesiology 

• Helped Minnesota to a 4-1 week, which included a series sweep of Iowa, finishing with a .500 batting average, seven hits, four runs, two home runs and five RBI in 14 plate appearances  

• Tallied her 19^th home run of the season on Monday against Iowa, trying for second overall for Minnesota’s single season home run record  

• Completed the week with a .500 batting average, a 1.143 slugging percentage and a .611 on base percentage 

• Last Minnesota Player of the Week: Jess Oakland (April 1, 2024) 

Pitcher of the Week  

Lauren Derkowski, Michigan 

Jr. – RHP – Elmhurst, Ill. – York Community – Major: Industrial and Operations Engineering 

• Posted a 2-0 record last week with a 0.88 ERA, 21 strikeouts and eight hits allowed over 16 innings pitched against Penn State 

• Tossed a three-hit shutout in the series opener vs. the Nittany Lions, with nine strikeouts  

• Closed the weekend with a season-high 12 strikeouts and five hits allowed over a complete-game, nine-inning win in the series finale  

• Last Michigan Pitcher of the Week: Lauren Derkowski (March 26, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week 

Ella Stephenson, Michigan 

OF – Algonac, Mich. – Algonac – Major: Movement Science 

• Helped lead Michigan to a 4-0 week with a .429 batting average with three runs, three extra-base hits and six RBI last week against Oakland and Penn State 

• Posted three hits and four RBI in a midweek matchup at Oakland and posted two doubles and two RBI in the second game vs. Penn State 

• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Ella Stephenson (April 22, 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, Gr., 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 

April 1  

PL: Jess Oakland, So., MINN 

P: Jalen Adams, So., IOWA 

    Courtney Wyche, Gr., MD 

F: Ella Stephenson, MICH 

April 8  

PL: Sarah Stone, Jr., IND 

P: Mattie Boyd, Gr., RU 

F: Izzy Cunnea, NU  

     Bridget Nemeth, PSU 

April 15  

PL: Keke Tholl, Sr., MICH 

       Morgan Smith, Sr., RU 

P: Ashley Miller, Gr., NU 

F: Ella Stephenson, MICH 

April 22  

PL: Kami Kortokrax, Jr., Ohio State 

P: Ashley Miller, Gr., NU 

F: Alex Cooper, IND 

    Ella Stephenson, MICH 

April 30  

PL: Jess Oakland, So., MINN 

P: Lauren Derkowski, Jr., MICH 

F: Ella Stephenson, MICH