Iowa, Nebraska, Rutgers and Oregon Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards
Hawkeyes’ Lindsay, Cornhuskers’ Kuszak and Bahl, Scarlet Knights’ Harrison and Ducks’ Ma’ake earn weekly recognition
Co-Player of the Week
Hannah Lindsay, Iowa
Sr. – C – Surprise, Ariz. – Shadow Ridge – Major: Health Studies
- Posted a .667 batting average across the Hawkeyes’ 4-0 weekend that featured three run-rule victories
- In 12 at bats, Lindsay had three home runs, eight hits and 16 RBI
- Against Texas A&M Commerce on Friday, Lindsay was perfect at the plate with four RBI and two walks, bringing in all four runs for the Hawkeyes in the game
- Against Abilene Christian on Saturday, Lindsay went 2-for-4 with two three-run home runs and a career-high six RBI. It was her second multi-home run game of her career
- Lindsay set or matched career highs in runs scored, hits and RBI on the weekend
- Last Iowa Player of the Week: Nia Carter (April 10, 2023)
Co-Player of the Week
Ava Kuszak, Nebraska
Jr. – INF – Broomfield, Colo. – Holy Family HS – Major: Animal Science
- Went 9-for-14 with six home runs in five games as Nebraska went 5-0 at the Troy Cox Classic
- Kuszak averaged 1.8 hits, 1.2 home runs, 2.0 runs and 2.6 RBI per game in 14 at bats and 19 plate appearances
- In addition to her .643 batting average, Kuszak posted a .684 on-base percentage and a 1.929 slugging percentage
- Kuszak homered in four of Nebraska’s five games, including tying the Nebraska and Big Ten record with three home runs as part of a 4-for-4 day against Montana on Sunday
- Set career highs against the Griz with four hits, three home runs, four runs and six RBI
- Kuszak opened the tournament by going 2-for-5 with two home runs, two walks, three runs and four RBI in pair of games against Texas A&M Corpus-Christi and host New Mexico State
- On day two, Kuszak went 3-for-5 with a homer, two walks, three runs and three RBI in wins over Montana and Northern Colorado
- Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Sydney Gray (May 6, 2024)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Jordy Bahl, Nebraska
Jr. – RHP – Papillion, Neb. – Papillion-La Vista – Major: Child, Youth and Family Studies
- Went 2-0 in her two starts in the circle, tossing 10.0 scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out 13
- Threw a 5.0-inning no-hitter, striking out five and not allowing a ball to leave the infield
- It was Bahl’s first no-hitter as a Husker and fourth of her career
- Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Brianna Copeland (Feb. 19, 2024)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Ella Harrison, Rutgers
Fr. – RHP – Clarence, N.Y. – Clarence – Major: Undeclared
- Collected three complete game victories at the Lion Invitation last week for a 1.00 ERA with 26 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched
- Held opponents to a .195 batting average and three earned runs
- Earned her first victory as a Scarlet Knight as Rutgers beat SIUE, 9-3, allowed one earned run on six hits while fanning eight in her first collegiate victory
- Tossed nine strikeouts and no earned runs in a 2-1 victory against Abilene Christian, holding the Wildcats to four hits, none for extra bases
- Harrison made it three consecutive complete-game victories in a 4-2 win over East Texas A&M, tallying nine strikeouts for the second-straight game
- Last Rutgers Pitcher of the Week: Mattie Boyd (April 8, 2024)
Freshman of the Week
Stefini Ma’ake
INF/OF – San Diego, Calif. – Academy of Our Lady Peace – Major: Undeclared
- Hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs to lead Oregon to a 5-1 record at the Littlewood Classic, hosted by Arizona State and Grand Canyon
- In two games on Saturday, Ma’ake hit three home runs and had seven RBI
- In the first game against Utah Valley, Ma’ake drove in four runs with one home run in the Ducks’ 7-1 win
- In the second game against Grand Canyon, Ma’ake’s solo shot in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and her two-run shot in the sixth doubled Oregon’s lead to 4-0, which was the eventual final score
- She hit .438 for the weekend with a slugging percentage of 1.250
- Last Oregon Freshman of the Week: Emma Cox (Feb. 10, 2025)
2025 Big Ten Softball Honorees
Feb. 10
PL: Jasmyn Burns, So., OSU
P: Lorin Boutte, Fr., OSU
F: Emma Cox, ORE
Feb. 17
Co-PL: Hannah Lindsay, Sr., IOWA
Co-PL: Ava Kuszak, Jr., NEB
Co-P: Jordy Bahl, Jr., NEB
Co-P: Ella Harrison, Fr., RU
F: Stefini Ma’ake, ORE