Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Nebraska Earn Big Ten Weekly Softball Awards
Fighting Illini’s Vickery, Wolverines’ Storako, Huskers’ Gray and Scarlet Knights’ Lawson claim this week’s conference honors
Player of the Week
Billie Andrews, Nebraska
So. – IF – Gretna, Neb. – Gretna – Major: Graphic Design
• Batted .500 with a 1.750 slugging percentage and .625 on-base percentage in a 3-1 week for the Huskers, hitting five home runs, driving in 10 runs and scoring eight times
• Extended her streak of games with a home run to five in a row (including all four games last week), the second-longest string in school history and good for 10th in NCAA Division I history
• Homered twice and drove in three runs in a March 4 win over South Dakota State, while also posting three-RBI games in wins over Wichita State on March 3 and 4
• Captures her first career Player of the Week honor
• Last Nebraska Player of the Week: Sydney Gray (Feb. 21, 2022)
Pitcher of the Week
Alex Storako, Michigan
Sr. – RHP – Frankfort, Ill. – Lincoln Way East – Major: Sport Management
• Went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 15.0 innings last week, tossing two complete-game shutouts and allowing just two hits (highlighted by a no-hitter) while striking out 25 and walking one
• Tossed her first career no-hitter on March 5 against Drake at Kentucky’s John Cropp Classic, going all eight innings with 13 strikeouts
• Also shut out host (and 10th-ranked) Kentucky on two hits while registering 12 strikeouts in the March 3 victory
• Two-time Academic All-Big Ten Team selection (2020, 2021)
• Collects her seventh career Pitcher of the Week plaudit and second this season
• Last Michigan Pitcher of the Week: Alex Storako (Feb. 21, 2022)
Co-Freshman of the Week
Stevie Meade, Illinois
OF – Olathe, Kan. – Saint Thomas Aquinas – Major: Biology
• Posted a .538 batting average, .846 slugging percentage and .571 on-base percentage in Illinois’ 3-1 week, collecting four doubles, four RBI and five runs at the Louisville Cardinal Classic
• Had multi-hit outings in three of the Fighting Illini’s four games last weekend
• Helped Illinois score 33 runs at the four-game tournament
• Earns her first career Freshman of the Week honor
• Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Lauren Wiles (Feb. 14, 2022)
Co-Freshman of the Week
Brianna Copeland, Indiana
P/1B – Pelham, Ala. – Pelham – Major: Comprehensive Design
• Contributed in the circle (2-0, 0.82 ERA in 11.0 innings) and at the plate (.667 batting average, 1.667 slugging percentage, .750 on-base percentage) as Indiana opened its home schedule last weekend by sweeping its four games at the Hoosier Classic
• Allowed just one earned run and struck out 11 (with one walk) in her two pitching appearances
• Went 2-for-2 at the plate and drilled her first career home run, a three-run shot, in the tournament finale on March 5 against Valparaiso
• Receives her first career Freshman of the Week award
• Last Indiana Freshman of the Week: Maddie Westmoreland (April 23, 2018)
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
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