Michigan, Rutgers and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards

Co-Player of the Week 

Keke Tholl, Michigan 

Sr. – 1B/C – Tinley Park, Ill.  – Victor J. Andrew High School – Major: Business Administration 

• Finished the week with a .583 (7-for-12) batting average, helping Michigan to a 5-0 week with wins over Michigan State, Central Michigan and a series win against Iowa 

• Recorded a 1.917 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage, boasting five home runs and eight RBI 

• Tied Michigan’s program record with three home runs in a single game at Michigan State, also tallying four RBI 

• Reached base in 12 of 13 plate appearances with four hits, including two home runs, four RBI and eight walks 

• Last Michigan Player of the Week: Lexie Blair (May 9, 2022) 

Co-Player of the Week 

Morgan Smith, Rutgers 

Sr. – OF/P – Phoenix, Ariz.  – Pinnacle High School – Major: Communication 

• Batted .500 (6-for-12) across eight games for the Scarlet Knights with four home runs, 16 RBI, seven runs scored and a 1.583 slugging percentage, in Rutgers’ 3-2 week including a series victory over Maryland  

• Added a pair of sac flies and was 3-for-3 on stolen bases 

• Helped Rutgers to a pair of wins at Maryland in a mid-week doubleheader and finished the series 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and 10 RBI 

• Surpassed Jackie Bates (2015) as Rutgers’ single-season RBI leader, upping her total to 57 on the year  

• Hit home run number 19 of the season with a three-run shot in Saturday’s game vs. Nebraska, marking her eighth game this season with three or more RBI. Her 19 home runs in a single season puts her second all-time in Rutgers’ program history  

• Last Rutgers Player of the Week: Katie Wingert (Feb. 12, 2024) 

Pitcher of the Week  

Ashley Miller, Northwestern 

Gr. – RHP – Leo, Ind. – Leo – Master’s: Management 

• Went 3-0 and posted a 1.84 ERA in 19.0 innings pitched in three starts 

• Limited opposing batters to a .200 batting average and struck out 15 across the three starts 

• Allowed just three hits and struck out five in 5.0 scoreless innings in an 8-0 run-rule win at Illinois on Tuesday  

• Tossed two complete games to help Northwestern secure a weekend series sweep vs. Maryland  

• Carried a no-hit bid into the fifth inning and struck out four in a 5-4 win vs. Maryland on Friday  

• Allowed four hits and one run while striking out six in a 2-1 win over Maryland in Sunday’s series finale. Did not surrender a hit over her final 3.2 innings of action  

• Last Northwestern Pitcher of the Week: Ashley Miller (March 18, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week 

Ella Stephenson, Michigan 

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

• Hit .421 (8-for-19) over the Wolverines’ five wins last week with a .632 slugging percentage and a .450 on-base percentage 

• Tallied four runs, scored five runs and five RBI 

• Tallied three hits at Michigan State with two doubles and two RBI 

• Recorded five hits in Michigan’s Saturday doubleheader against Iowa with two doubles and three RBI in the series opener 

• Last Michigan Freshman of the Week: Ella Stephenson (April 1, 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