NEW YORK – The 2024 BIG EAST softball major awards and all-conference selections were announced by the league on Tuesday. The major award winners and all-conference honorees were decided by a coaches’ vote based on performance in conference this season.
UConn’s Lexi Hastings was lauded BIG EAST Player of the Year after leading the league in batting average (.500), hits (37), on base percentage (.537), triples (2), and stolen bases (16). She stood second in total bases (52), third in runs scored (22), and fifth in slugging percentage (.703). Furthermore, the Virginia native contributed two doubles, two triples, three home runs, and 12 RBI.
In addition to pacing a UConn squad which ranked first in stolen bases (36), the junior registered the most stolen bases in a single conference game this season with three against St. John’s on April 7. Earning 22 starts in the outfield, Hastings owned a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 34 putouts. The junior has earned All-Conference accolades every year of her Connecticut career, collecting second team honors in 2022 before moving to the first team in 2023.
Creighton’s Natalia Puchino was unanimously elected BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year following a standout campaign which saw the sophomore lead the league in both conference wins (12) and innings pitched (102). She owned a 1.78 ERA while holding opponents to just .170 batting and striking out 82. On the year, she appeared in 21 BIG EAST games, making 12 starts, and registering a pair of saves.
Teammate Ashten Pierson was recognized as BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, the first freshman to earn the honor since its addition to the major awards in 2018. The shortstop boasted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 38 putouts, contributing 48 assists and fielding five double plays. She was an essential cog in a Creighton machine that held opponents to a league-low 127 hits.
Seton Hall’s Katey Brennan earned Freshman of the Year accolades after making an immediate impact on the reigning BIG EAST Champion’s roster. This season, the Pennsylvania product ranked sixth in the conference in hits (29) and doubles (7), seventh in runs batted in (21) and tenth in total bases (44). Across 80 at-bats, Brennan owned a 0.363 average with 11 runs, seven doubles, one triple, and two home runs. The outfielder contributed 35 putouts without error (1.000).
Under the BIG EAST Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, led by head coach Bridget Orchard, Villanova secured its first ever regular season title. The Wildcats owned a 28-22 mark overall while leading the league with 19 conference wins (19-5), highlighted by series sweeps over DePaul, Georgetown, Providence, St. John’s, and Seton Hall. Supported by associate head coach Gabby Luety and assistant coach Grace Fagan, Villanova led the league in numerous statistical categories including slugging (.528) and on-base percentage (.420), runs batted in (144), home runs (31), total bases (339), and walks (115). Between the first and second all-conference teams, the Wildcats were represented four times.
Creighton’s Krista Wood also led a BIG EAST Co-Coaching Staff of the Year, guiding a league-best four student-athletes to first team accolades. Assisted by Ryan Wieligman, Kjirstyn Murphy, and Danielle Manley, Creighton secured its third berth to the BIG EAST tournament since joining the league, earning the number three seed. Under the second-year head coach, the Bluejays conference record (16-8) marked a notable turnaround since the 2023 campaign (6-18) and an even further improvement since 2022 (5-17). At the conclusion of the regular season, Creighton led the league in batting average (.311) and hits (195), ranking second in runs scored (115) and third in runs batted in (105). Bluejay pitchers held opponents to a league-low 127 hits allowed while boasting a 3.21 ERA (third).
Four athletes earned unanimous First Team All-Conference honors – Creighton’s Natalia Puchino and Madeline Vejvoda, St. John’s London Jarrard, and Villanova’s Lilly St. Jean.
With five total honorees each UConn and Creighton tied for the most representatives across the first and second teams. Seton Hall followed Creighton’s four first team selections with three of their own.
UConn boasted the most repeat selections with three in Hastings (24, 23, 22), pitcher Payton Kinney (24, 23), and 2023 Freshman of the Year, Grace Jenkins (24, 23). Villanova produced a pair of repeat performers in Ava Franz (24, 23) and Ally Jones (24, 23, 21).
Also returning to All-BIG EAST teams were Butler’s Cate Lehner (24, 23), Creighton’s Cayla Nielsen (24, 23), St. John’s London Jarrard (24, 23), and 2023 Pitcher of the Year Kelsey Carr (Seton Hall, 24, 23).
The complete list of all-conference selections can be found below.
Player of the Year: Lexi Hastings, Jr., OF, UConn
Pitcher of the Year: Natalia Puchino, So., P, Creighton*
Defensive Player of the Year: Ashten Pierson, Fr., SS, Creighton
Freshman of the Year: Katey Brennan, Fr., OF, Seton Hall
Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year: Creighton (Krista Wood) & Villanova (Bridget Orchard)
First Team All-BIG EAST
Cate Lehner, So., RF, Butler
Rosie Garcia, Jr., INF, UConn
Lexi Hastings, Jr., OF, UConn
Ella Dalton, So., CF, Creighton
Cayla Nielsen, Sr., LF, Creighton
Natalia Puchino, So., P, Creighton*
Madeline Vejvoda, Sr., 2B, Creighton*
London Jarrard, Jr., SS, St. John’s*
Katey Brennan, Fr., OF, Seton Hall
Kelsey Carr, Sr., P, Seton Hall
Olivia Gilbert, Jr., INF, Seton Hall
Lilly St. Jean, So., 2B, Villanova*
Second Team All-BIG EAST
Ella White, Jr., 3B, Butler
Grace Jenkins, So., C, UConn
Hope Jenkins, So., DP/P, UConn
Payton Kinney, Sr., P, UConn
Sydra Seville, Jr., RF, Creighton
Claire Turner, So., OF, Georgetown
Gabriella Lee, So., OF, Providence
Jess Bianco, So., OF, St. John’s
Ana Serafinko, So., P/DP, St. John’s
Ava Franz, Jr., SS, Villanova
Ally Jones, Gr., C, Villanova
Elaina Wagner, Jr., OF, Villanova
*Denotes unanimous selection