Minnesota, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards

Player of the Week 

Jess Oakland, Minnesota  

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

• Hit four home runs in Minnesota’s series win vs. Illinois  

• Broke Minnesota’s single-game record with three home runs in game two of the series 

• Scored four runs in game three, matching Minnesota’s single game program record 

• Broke Minnesota’s single-game total bases record with 14 in game two vs. Illinois, a record that has stood since 2002 

• Led the Gophers at the plate, hitting .800 with six RBI and slugged 2.100 

• Had seven of Minnesota’s 35 total runs over the weekend, limiting the Illini to five total runs  

• Last Minnesota Player of the Week: Taylor Krapf (Feb. 27, 2023) 

Co-Pitcher of the Week  

Jalen Adams, Iowa 

So. – RHP – Fort Dodge, Iowa – Fort Dodge 

• Threw first career no-hitter in Friday’s win over Michigan State, marking the 19th no-hitter in Iowa program history  

• Threw a complete game shutout in Saturday’s second game of a doubleheader, securing the series victory over the Spartans 

• Held opposing batters to a .152 batting average, allowing zero runs in 14.0 innings of work  

• Threw her 12th and 13th complete games of the season  

• Last Iowa Pitcher of the Week: Allison Doocy (May 4, 2021) 

Co-Pitcher of the Week  

Courtney Wyche, Maryland 

Gr. – RHP – Silver Spring, Md. – Montgomery Blair– Master’s: Management 

• Struck out a career-best 19 batters in Maryland’s 2-0 win in game one of the Terrapins weekend series with Penn State. The 19 strikeouts are the most in the NCAA this season 

• Pitched the 12th shutout and 43rd complete game of her career, allowing just two hits as part of her 50th win of her career and ninth of the season 

• On Sunday, Wyche made her third appearance in the series, pitching her second complete game, striking out 17 batters and allowing one run and six hits 

• Tallied 38 strikeouts and allowed 11 hits and three runs throughout 22.1 innings of work in the series  

• Last Maryland Pitcher of the Week: Courtney Wyche (March 11, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week 

Ella Stephenson, Michigan 

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

• Posted a .429 batting average (6-for-14) last week with two doubles, two runs and six RBI 

• Hit two RBI doubles in the second game of the series at Indiana and went 3-for-4 in the finale with two RBI 

• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Jenissa Conway (March 18, 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