FARMINGTON, Utah (April 30, 2026) – The
2026 Big Sky Softball Individual Awards and All-Conference Teams were announced on Thursday by the conference office, with Sacramento State's Lafulafu Malepeai headlining the announcement after winning Player of the Year honors for the Hornets.
The all-conference awards and teams are voted on by the league's head coaches, who could not vote for their own institution's student-athletes.
Sac State's Malepeai was named Player of the Year in just her second season in the league, as the former Newcomer of the Year was an offensive powerhouse for the Hornets. Malepeai ranked top-three in the league with a .405 batting average and was second in the league in home runs with 15.
For the second season in a row, an Idaho State pitcher collects top honors for that position, as Marley Goluskin was named the Pitcher of the Year. The junior logged an 11-4 record over 20 appearances and 18 starts. Goluskin held her opponents to a .249 batting average and recorded 77 strikeouts on the year.
Kailee Mejia of Montana earned Freshman of the Year honors in just 20 starts on the season. Mejia racked up a batting average of .410 throughout the season, made up of 25 hits, four doubles, and two home runs. The freshman first baseman also had a perfect fielding percentage in her rookie campaign.
Sac State's Madi Mendoza and Montana's Carah Sweet share Newcomer of the Year honors after a stellar first season of play in the Big Sky. Mendoza was one of the league's best at the plate the season batting .348, with six home runs, 13 doubles, and 23 RBIs. Sweet did her part from the circle, as the Grizzly pitcher earned six wins in 10 starts, tallying 40 strikeouts on the year.
Andrew Rich of Idaho State and Stef Ewing of Montana share Coach of the Year honors. Rich collected his third regular-season title in the past four seasons this year, while Ewing led her team to just one win short of a regular-season championship for a program that had finished in last place of the Big Sky standings in every season since 2023.
The 2026 Big Sky Softball Championships will be held May 4-7 at Idaho State’s Direct Communications Field at Miller Ranch Stadium in Pocatello, Idaho. All six Big Sky softball teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament. The tournament champion will earn the Big Sky’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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2026 Big Sky Softball Individual Award Winners
Player of the Year: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State
Pitcher of the Year: Marley Goluskin, Idaho State
Freshman of the Year: Kailee Mejia, Montana
Co-Top Newcomer of the Year: Carah Sweet, Montana/Madi Mendoza, Sacramento State
Co-Coach of the Year: Andrew Rich, Idaho State/Stef Ewing, Montana
First Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State*
First Base: Sydney Groves, Idaho State
Second Base: Katie Walling, Northern Colorado
Shortstop: Anna Cockhill, Montana
Third Base: Madison Evers-Lyles, Sacramento State
Outfield: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State*
Outfield: Alyssa Yee, Idaho State*
Outfield: Ava Brown, Idaho State
Pitcher: Marley Goluskin, Idaho State
Pitcher: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State
Pitcher/UTL: Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung, Portland State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Ella Gonzales, Northern Colorado
* - unanimous selection
Second Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Shannon Garcia, Sacramento State
First Base: Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado
Second Base: Grace Lopez, Montana
Shortstop: Camryn McDonald, Idaho State
Third Base: Breanna Lutz, Portland State
Outfield: Jordan McMahon, Weber State
Outfield: KK Christie, Northern Colorado
Outfield: Saskia Raab, Sacramento State
Pitcher: Alexa Ortiz, Sacramento State^
Pitcher: Kennedie Bacon, Sacramento State^
Pitcher: Carah Sweet, Montana^
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Jojo Christiaens, Montana
^- three-way tie in voting
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention
Catcher: Jordan Hart, Weber State
First Base: Kailee Mejia, Montana
First Base: Apple Maldonado, Weber State
Second Base: Sadie Kirk, Weber State
Shortstop: Madi Mendoza, Sacramento State
Shortstop: Krista Francia, Northern Colorado
Third Base: Hayden Nelson, Northern Colorado
Outfield: Jaden Moore, Idaho State
Outfield: Mackenzie Bekofsky, Montana
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Kira Day, Idaho State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Abigail Carsley, Portland State
Honorable Mention selections received at least 3 votes