FARMINGTON, Utah (April 14, 2025) – The Big Sky Conference will announce weekly honors for softball, outdoor track and field, and tennis through the course of the week.
Big Sky Softball Player of the Week (April 14, 2025)
Player of the Week: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State (2B, So., Mered, Calif.)
In the Bengals three-game sweep of the Weber State Wildcats this weekend to take possession of first-place, Bengal catcher Jenna Kearns came up big time, hitting back-to-back game-winning hits.
In game one, Kearns two-run double propelled the Bengals past the Wildcats in the 6th inning.
The next game, with a tie score in the 7th inning, Kearns came up to bat and launched a home run over the left field wall, putting the Bengals ahead and securing the 2nd victory of the day. With three RBIs and seven total bases, Kearns finished the weekend with a strong .778 SLG %.
Defensively, Kearns had six putouts, one assist for a 1.000 weekend.
Others Nominated for Softball Player of the Week
Lorraine Alo (PSU), Malepeai Lafulafu (SAC)
Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week (April 14, 2025)
Pitcher of the Week: Gracie Walters, Portland State (P, R-Jr., Nampa, ID)
Gracie Walters had a historic weekend in the circle for the Vikings, leading PSU to a 2-1 series win over Montana. The redshirt junior tossed just the second no-hitter by a Viking since 2012, delivering a complete-game gem in a 4-1 win in game two. She followed it up with another dominant outing on Sunday, allowing just one hit over 4.1 innings to help PSU clinch the series with a 6-2 victory.
She was lights-out across the weekend, throwing 11.1 total innings while holding the Griz to a minuscule .031 batting average. She struck out four, allowed only one run, and finished the series with a 0.62 ERA.
Others Nominated for Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kasey Aguinaga (ISU), Alexa Ortiz (SAC)
Big Sky Track & Field Athletes of the Week (April 14, 2025)
Men's Track Athlete of the Week: Peter Visser, Weber State (Sr., Afton, Wyo.)
Weber State's
Peter Visser recorded a first-place finish in the mile with a time of 4:01.08 at the Weber State Spring Classic. Adjusting that to 1500 meters, the event that is normally run during outdoor, and with an altitude adjustment, Vissers time is 3:38.65 and is currently eighth in the NCAA. The conference weekly honor is the first for Visser of the outdoor season.
Others Nominated for Men's Track Athlete of the Week
James Timmins (PSU)
Men's Field Athlete of the Week: Ethan Ecker, Weber State (Fr., Roy, Utah)
Weber State's
Ethan Ecker recorded a first-place finish in the javelin with a mark of 207-00. That mark is now ninth on the all-time list for Weber State following his performance at the Utah Spring Classic. The conference weekly honor is the first for Ecker of the outdoor season.
Others Nominated for Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Cort Gebbers (EWU), Daniel Coppedge (PSU)
Women's Track Athlete of the Week: Saga Hagelin, Weber State (Jr., Sweden)
Weber State's
Saga Hagelin recorded first-place finish in the mile run with a time of 4:52.48 at the Weber State Spring Classic, which converts to 4:30.81 for the 1500. The conference weekly honor is the first for Hagelin of the outdoor season.
Others Nominated for Women's Track Athlete of the Week
Emma Stolte (PSU)
Women's Field Athlete of the Week: Whitney Morrison, Montana (Gr., Missoula, Mont)
Montana's
Whitney Morrison scored a 5,327 in the heptathlon at the Bryan Clay Multi's in California. The mark was the 11th best multi in the west this year and the top mark in the Big Sky. The conference weekly honor is the first for Morrison of the outdoor season.
Others Nominated for Women's Field Athlete of the Week
Zoe Dunn (EWU), Sav Garcia (PSU), Miley Richards (WSU)
Big Sky Women's Tennis Player of the Week (April 16, 2025)
Women's Tennis Player of the Week: Kate Prichard (Fr., San Diego, Calif.?)
Montana's
Kate Prichard clinched a 4-3 comeback win for the Griz over rival Montana State, as she won a three-setter against the Bobcats. Prichard took down MSU's Andrea Cuquerellard in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, to secure the program's third-straight win over the Bobcats. It was Prichard’s first clinch of her college career.
Others Nominated for Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Millie Day (ISU), Daryna Shoshyna (NAU)
Big Sky Men's Tennis Player of the Week (April 16, 2025)
Men's Tennis Player of the Week: Dani Torres (Sr., Valencia, Spain)
Northern Arizona's
Dani Torres won weekly honors for the second consecutive week, as the senior posted four combined wins at the No. 1 spot for the Lumberjacks. Torres won a pair of matches in the win over Sacramento State, before following that up with two more victories against Montana State. Torres improved to 15-4 in overall singles play, with all 15 victories coming at the No. 1 slot while improving to 17-2 in overall doubles play.
Others Nominated for Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Francisco Gay (UI), Quentin Lamothe (ISU), Tom Bittner (UM), Luca Prino (PSU), Gur Libal (SAC)
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