Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards

by | Feb 16, 2026 | Headlines, Softball

Michigan, Minnesota and Penn State Earn Big Ten Softball Weekly Awards
Wolverines’ Putz, Gophers’ Schwartz and Nittany Lions’ Oneacre gather weekly recognition

Player of the Week

Lauren Putz, Michigan
So. – OF – Phoenix, Ariz. – Xavier College Preparatory

  •  
  • Putz batted .600 (9-for-15) over the Wolverines’ five-game appearance at the Houston-HCU Invitational with a 2.067 slugging percentage and a .648 on-base percentage  
  •  
  • Recorded five home runs over the final three tournament games and totaled eight runs and 12 RBI on the weekend
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  • Posted at least one hit in each game and two apiece in the final four
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  • Last Michigan Player of the Week: Jenissa Conway (March 31, 2025)

 

Pitcher of the Week

Sydney Schwartz, Minnesota

Sr. – P/INF – Victoria, Minn. – Chanhassen

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  • Tallied 23 strikeouts over 16.0 innings pitches, earning two wins and a save across four appearances
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  • Recorded 10 strikeouts while allowing just one run in a complete game (7.0 IP) against Idaho State on Feb. 13
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  • Earned the win in relief against UTEP on Friday
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  • On Saturday, earned the save in Minnesota’s win over New Mexico State, tossing a scoreless outing (0 runs, 0 errors) with four strikeouts
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  • Last Minnesota Pitcher of the Week: Sydney Schwartz (April 28, 2025)

 

Freshman of the Week

Allison Oneacre, Penn State

INF – Alpharetta, Ga.  – Milton

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  • Helped the Nittany Lions to a 4-1 record at the Houston Invitational, highlighted by a pair of run-rule victories over Houston (10-2) and Pittsburgh (11-2)
  •  
  • Hit .583, recording seven hits with six of the seven going for extra bases
  •  
  • Blasted a team-high four home runs and added a pair of doubles, racking up 21 total bases and a 1.750 slugging percentage
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  • Her single-weekend OPS of 2.450 is the best by a Nittany Lion in 2026, and her team-leading 10 RBI helped power Penn State to outscore its opponents by a 43-11 margin across the five-game tournament
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  • Defensively, totaled five putouts and 11 assists for an unblemished 1.000 fielding percentage
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  • Last Penn State Freshman of the Week: Bridget Nemeth (April 8, 2024)

 

2026 Big Ten Softball Honorees
Feb. 9
PL: Jordan Woolery, Sr., UCLA
P: Kelsey Hoekstra, So., RU
F: Bella Douglas, PUR
Feb. 16
PL: Lauren Putz, So., MICH
P: Sydney Schwartz, Sr., MINN
F: Allison Oneacre, PSU

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