BTN.com staff, February 27, 2012

The Big Ten Conference announced its Big Ten Softball Players of the Week for Feb. 20-26 action on Monday. See the winners and what they did to earn the distinctions in this post.

Player of the Week: Molly Garst, Purdue, Sr., SS, Webb City, Mo./Webb City

  • Hit .667 and combined for an OPS of 1.895 to help Purdue to a perfect 5-0 record last weekend
  • Was 12-for-18 from the plate and had three three-hit games, including a 5-for-5 outing against Troy to conclude the weekend
  • Scored 10 runs on the weekend, crossing the plate two or more times in four games, drove in six runs and stole eight bases, including a school record three against Niagara, during the weekend
  • Records the second Big Ten Player of the Week honor of her career
  • Last Purdue Player of the Week: Lindsay Rains (Feb. 20, 2012)

Pitcher of the Week: Sara Moulton, Minnesota, So., RHP, Eagan, Minn./Eagan

  • Posted an 0.67 ERA in 21 innings of work at the Carolina Classic over the weekend, where she was named Co-MVP
  • Recorded two complete-game victories, against James Madison and Notre Dame, where she combined for 20 strikeouts and three walks, allowing just three hits and one earned run
  • Against nationally ranked North Carolina, pitched her third complete game of the weekend, allowing just one earned run while striking out eight
  • Claims her third career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor and second this season
  • Last Minnesota Pitcher of the Week: Sara Moulton (Feb. 13, 2012)

Freshman of the Week: Madie Eckstrom, Minnesota, IF, Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater

  • Earned Co-MVP honors at the Carolina Classic after helping Minnesota to a 3-1 record
  • Was .545 (6-for-11) from the plate with a hit in all four Gopher games, driving in four runs and finishing with a .615 on-base percentage
  • Claims her first Big Ten Freshman of the Week award
  • Last Minnesota Freshman of the Week:  Sara Moulton (April 25, 2011)

Olivia Duehr, Northwestern, OF, Antioch, Ill./Antioch

  • Hit .417 with an OPS of 1.450 to help Northwestern to a pair of wins last weekend, including a win over No. 11 Missouri
  • Reached base in every game and drove in eight runs on the week, four each against Colorado State and No. 19 Oregon before finishing with a stolen base in the Wildcats win over the Tigers
  • Takes home her first Freshman of the Week award
  • Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Marisa Bast (April 25, 2011)