Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards
Wildcats’ Williams, Buckeyes’ Hackenbracht and Kortokrax, Nittany Lions’ Parshall and Scarlet Knights’ Sand are latest recipients of conference’s weekly accolades
Co-Player of the Week
Sam Hackenbracht, Ohio State
Jr. – C/UT – Massillion, Ohio – Massillon Washington – Major: Middle Childhood Education
• Batted .588 with a 1.706 slugging percentage and .600 on-base percentage in a 4-2 week for the Buckeyes, slamming six home runs with 10 RBI and seven runs scored
• Had home runs in four of Ohio State’s six games last week, including two home runs apiece in the Buckeyes’ first two outings (at No. 24 UCF on March 15 and vs. Lehigh on March 17)
• Added home runs in the final two games of the weekend against St. Thomas (Minn.) and No. 22 USF, going 2-for-2 in the latter game with a home run, double and two RBI in a 9-0 win over the nationally-ranked Bulls
• Chosen for Academic All-Big Ten recognition last year
• Captures her third career Player of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Player of the Week: Jaycee Ruberti (March 14, 2022)
Co-Player of the Week
Kyleigh Sand, Rutgers
So. – SS – Norco, Calif. – Norco – Major: Labor and Employment Relations
• Posted a .619 batting average, .762 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage last week, scoring 10 runs while adding eight RBI and six stolen bases as RU won five of six games at the Rutgers Softball Tournament
• Had four multi-hit games, including a 7-for-8 day on March 18 against Saint Peter’s (season-high 4-for-4 with first career home run out of leadoff spot) and Fairfield (3-for-4 with season-high three RBI)
• Drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Drexel
• Receives her first career Player of the Week award
• Last Rutgers Player of the Week: Anyssa Iliopoulos (May 6, 2019)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Danielle Williams, Northwestern
Sr. – LHP – Pleasanton, Calif. – Amador Valley – Major: Human Development in Context
• Went 2-0 with two saves, a 0.86 ERA, a complete-game shutout and 30 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched last week as Northwestern went 4-0 at the Mizzou Classic in Columbia, Mo.
• Tossed her second career no-hitter in the tournament finale Sunday vs. Stanford, striking out 11 and facing just three batters over the minimum
• Added a season-high 13 strikeouts in a 10-inning win at No. 18 Missouri on March 19
• Chosen as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten selection last year
• Collects her seventh career Pitcher of the Week plaudit and second this season
• Last Northwestern Pitcher of the Week: Danielle Williams (March 1, 2022)
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Bailey Parshall, Penn State
Sr. – LHP – Belle Vernon, Pa. – Belle Vernon Area – Major: Health Policy and Administration
• Went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA, two complete-game shutouts and 27 strikeouts with no walks in 21.0 innings last week as PSU won all five outings at its Penn State Softball Invitational
• Tied her season high with 12 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout win at Pittsburgh on March 16
• Also went the distance in blanking Rider on March 18
• Selected for Academic All-Big Ten accolades last season
• Captures her second career Pitcher of the Week honor
• Last Penn State Pitcher of the Week: Bailey Parshall (March 9, 2020)
Freshman of the Week
Kami Kortokrax, Ohio State
SS – Westerville, Ohio – Bishop Hartley – Major: Communication
• Batted .500 with a .667 slugging percentage and .526 on-base percentage last week, collecting nine hits, four runs and two RBI as OSU won four of six games
• Had at least one hit in all six outings, including three multi-hit games
• Reached base in all three plate appearances on March 18 vs. St. Thomas (Minn.), going 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs scored
• Earns her first career Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Avery Clark (Feb. 17, 2020)
2022 Big Ten Players of the Week
Feb. 14
PL: Abbie Squier, So., NEB
PL: Rachel Lewis, Grad., NU
P: Ashley Miller, So., MSU
F: Lauren Wiles, ILL
Feb. 21
PL: Jaelyn Vickery, So., ILL
PL: Sydney Gray, So., NEB
P: Alex Storako, Sr., MICH
F: Maddie Lawson, RU
March 1
PL: Mackense Greico, Sr., MD
P: Danielle Williams, Sr., NU
F: Maddie Lawson, RU
March 8
PL: Billie Andrews, So., NEB
P: Alex Storako, Sr., MICH
F: Stevie Meade, ILL
F: Brianna Copeland, IND
March 14
PL: Jaycee Ruberti, Sr., OSU
PL: Rachel Becker, Sr., PUR
P: Lexie Handley, Grad., OSU
F: Molly Schlosser, WIS
March 21
PL: Sam Hackenbracht, Jr., OSU
PL: Kyleigh Sand, So., RU
P: Danielle Williams, Sr., NU
P: Bailey Parshall, Sr., PSU
F: Kami Kortokrax, OSU