Four Huskers receive Big Ten honors, open Big Ten tournament play Thursday

Four Nebraska softball players were honored by the Big Ten conference on Wednesday. Sophomore infielder Tristen Edwards was a unanimous first-team pick. Senior utility player Kaylan Jablonski and junior outfielder Alyvia Simmons earned second-team honors for the second consecutive year, while senior pitcher Caitlin Bartsch earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

As a sophomore, Edwards started every game at shortstop for the Huskers in 2018, despite never playing the position before this season. She leads the Huskers with a .358 batting average, 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.

Additionally, Edwards has 11 doubles. She’s one of just 13 players in Nebraska history to have at least ten doubles and ten homers in the same season.

Jablonski has been impressive both at the plate and in the circle. She’s played all 53 games this season, batting .324. She has ten home runs, seven doubles and 29 RBis.

Jablonski has a team-low ERA of 3.51 and a record of 21-14. Her 21 wins this season are a career-high.

Jablonski was also the first pitcher in the country to reach 17 wins this season. She has six saves which are tied for second most on NU’s all-time saves list.

On March 17, Jablonski became the first player in NCAA history to hit three home runs and pick up a win in the circle in a 7-1 victory over Cal State Fullerton at the Easton Invitational.

Simmons has started 51 games in right field and leads the team with a .390 batting average in conference play. She ranks third on the team with 55 hits and leads the team with 12 doubles.

Bartsch has appeared in only three games, but she’s been instrumental to the team both in practice and on game days. Bartsch is also a standout off the field, being selected as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree twice. Bartsch is also a three-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, and earned the Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award.

The No. 9 seed Huskers (31-22, 9-13 Big Ten) face off against No. 8 seed Michigan State (24-25, 10-12 Big Ten) in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. First pitch from the Goodman Softball Complex in Madison, Wis. is set for 4:30 central. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.