BTN.com staff, April 8, 2012

The Big Ten Conference released its Big Ten Softball Players of the Week for April 2-8 action Monday. See all the winners and check out what they did to earn the distinctions in this post.

Player of the Week: Stephanie Peace, Wisconsin, So., SS, New Braunfels, Texas

  • Hit .667 and combined for an OPS of 2.033, slugging 1.333 and posting a .700 on-base percentage, helping Wisconsin to a three-game sweep of Minnesota
  • Drove in three runs and scored four, also recording  a stolen base in Game 2 of the series
  • Helped the Badgers rally from an eight-run deficit in Game 3 of the series, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a home run
  • Wins her first career conference accolade
  • Last Wisconsin Player of the Week: Molly Spence (March 12, 2012)

Co-Pitcher of the Week: Ashley Hagemann, Nebraska, Sr., P, Elkhorn, Neb./Elkhorn

  • Earned two wins over Illinois, allowing just three hits and one earned run for an 0.47 ERA on the week
  • Tossed her first career no-hitter in Game 1, striking out 11 and walking two in the six-inning win
  • Appeared in two innings of relief in Game 2 before pitching seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball in the series finale, securing the sweep of the Illini
  • Wins her second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor
  • Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Tatum Edwards (March 26, 2012)

Cassandra Darrah, Wisconsin, So., P, Corydon, Iowa/Wayne

  • Recorded four wins  last week, allowing just one earned run in 28 innings for an 0.25 ERA
  • Won Games 1 and 2 against Minnesota, combining for 12 strikeouts in 14 innings of work in which she allowed just one earned run
  • Earned midweek wins against UIC and Loyola, posting a spotless ERA and allowing just eight hits over 14 innings
  • Wins her first weekly honor
  • Last Wisconsin Pitcher of the Week: Eden Brock (March 6, 2007)

Freshman of the Week: Megan Blank, Iowa, SS, Culver City, Calif./Marymount

  • Finished the three-game set against Northwestern with a .667 average, slugging 1.167 and reaching base at an .833 clip
  • Was perfect from the plate in Games 1 and 2 of the series, combining for three runs scored and two RBI
  • In the finale, scored a run drove in three more following a bases-loaded triple
  • Takes home her second weekly award of the season
  • Last Iowa Freshman of the Week: Megan Blank (Feb. 13, 2012)