Minnesota and Northwestern Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards

Golden Gophers’ Hope Brandner and Wildcats’ Jordyn Rudd and Danielle Williams receive Big Ten’s top honors this week
Co-Players of the Week
Hope Brandner, Minnesota
1B – So. – Vacaville, Calif. – Vanden – Major: Undeclared
Batted .556 with two home runs and seven RBI, as well as a .636 on-base percentage and a 1.556 slugging percentage last week, helping No. 21/23 Minnesota open with two wins in three games at the Friends of Jaclyn Tournament in Orlando
Had a home run, a double and five RBI in her Golden Gopher debut on Feb. 8, a win over North Florida
Also doubled twice and drove in a run at UCF on Feb. 8 and added a solo home run the following day against Ole Miss
Earns her first career Player of the Week honor
Last Minnesota Player of the Week: Maddie Houlihan (May 7, 2018)
Jordyn Rudd, Northwestern
C – Fr. – Greenwood, Ind. – Center Grove – Major: Undeclared
Posted a .467 batting average with two home runs, 10 RBI, a .529 on-base percentage and a 1.067 slugging percentage last week to pace the Wildcats to a 4-1 record at the Titan Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
Hit two home runs and drove in five in a win over Pacific on Feb. 8
Also had two doubles and three RBI against Utah State on Feb. 8, as well as two hits against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 9 and two RBI against Idaho State on Feb. 10
Earns her first career Player of the Week honor
Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Marissa Panko (April 16, 2018)
Pitcher/Freshman of the Week
Danielle Williams, Northwestern
LHP – Fr. – Pleasanton, Calif. – Amador Valley – Major: Undeclared
Went 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA, while registering 22 strikeouts and two walks in 17.2 innings in the circle last week, tossing two complete-game shutouts as Northwestern won four of its five games at the Cal State Fullerton Titan Classic
Nearly threw a no-hitter in her collegiate debut on Feb. 8 against Pacific, giving up her only hit with two outs in the seventh inning before settling for a one-hit complete game shutout
Tossed a two-hit shutout against Louisville on Feb. 9, striking out 13 without walking a batter
Got the win in relief on Feb. 10 against Idaho State, allowing just one run and driving in the tying and winning runs with her first collegiate hit, a two-run single in the top of the seventh
Earns her first career Pitcher of the Week honor
Last Northwestern Pitcher of the Week: Kristen Wood (April 6, 2015)
Earns her first career Freshman of the Week honor
Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Rachel Lewis (April 2, 2017)