Around The Big Ten – March 19

More on this week’s edition of “Big Ten Whip Around” — start listening to SiriusXM Big Ten Radio (Ch. 372) on the SiriusXM app now.

BASEBALL

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mitch Voit, Michigan
Jr. — 2B — Milwaukee, Wis. — Whitefish Bay HS

• Compiled a slash line of .667/.739/1.222 in five games last week against opponents USC, Michigan State and Toledo
• Recorded a 1.961 OPS; also accumulated a home run, 22 total bases, 12 RBI and six runs scored
• Was flawless defensively at second base, recording 12 putouts and 18 assists while being a part of six double plays.
• Captures his first Big Ten Player Award; has previously been named Pitcher of the Week (once) and Freshman of the Week (twice).
• Last Wolverine named Big Ten Player of the Week: Ted Burton on May 18, 2021

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Collin Clarke, Oregon
So. — S-RHP — Irvine, Calif. — Santa Margarita Catholic HS

• Threw seven innings of shutout ball as No. 9 Oregon defeated Minnesota, 4-2, on Saturday to clinch the weekend series in Eugene
• Matched career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts (8)
• Allowed just three hits while holding the Gophers to a .136 batting average
• The third quality start of the season lowered Clarke’s ERA to 2.08
• Becomes first Oregon hurler to be chosen Big Ten Pitcher of the Week.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Hogan Denny, Indiana
Fr. — C/OF — Mooresville, Ind. — Mooresville HS

• Batted .600 (6-for-10) in helping Indiana to a 4-0 week with a three-game sweep of Ohio State and a win over Indiana State.
• Delivered a walk-off single in the bottom tenth of Indiana’s 8-7 win on Friday against the Buckeyes
• Recorded multiple hits in all three games of the Big Ten series, scoring four runs and reaching base at a .636 clip
• Filled the roles of left fielder, second baseman, designated hitter and pinch hitter
• Last Hoosier chosen Freshman of the Week: Cooper Malamazian on March 10, 2025

SOFTBALL

Player of the Week
Katie Flannery, Oregon
So. – 3B – Birmingham, Ala. – Spain Park – Major: Psychology

• Hit .692 (9-for-13) with a double, a triple, four home runs and 12 RBI to help Oregon win its Big Ten opening series at Washington

• Scored nine runs and had a slugging percentage of 1.846

• Homered twice and had five RBI in the Ducks’ 9-0 win on Friday

• Hit another home run and drove in three in the game two win

• Went 2-for-3 in the final game with the Huskies

• Began the week with a home run as part of the Ducks’ school record 15-run first inning on Monday vs. Abilene Christian, finishing the game 3-for-3 with four RBI and tied the school record scoring four runs
• Last Oregon Player of the Week: Katie Flannery (March 17, 2025)

Pitcher of the Week
Taylor Tinsley, UCLA
Jr. – RHP – Lawrenceville, Ga. – George Walton Academy – Major: Psychobiology

• Recorded a win and a save while striking out 11 over 6.0 scoreless innings to help UCLA sweep Purdue in its first-ever Big Ten series

• Started in the game one win and allowed just two of the 16 batters she faced to reach base, striking out 10

• Marked her third double-digit strikeout outing of the season and third of her career

• Faced the minimum in all but one of her five innings in game one, not allowing a runner in scoring position

• In game two, Tinsley needed just 11 pitches to earn her second save of the season in a 2-1 victory

• Has not allowed a run in each of her last three appearances
• Last UCLA Pitcher of the Week: Taylor Tinsley (March 17, 2025)
• Freshman of the Week

Kendra Lewis, Wisconsin
P/DP – Milan, Ill.  – Rock Ridge – Major: Educational Studies

• Helped power Wisconsin to a 2-1 series win over Illinois

• Lewis hit .545 (6-for-11), while hitting a home run in each game of the three-game series

• Recorded multiple hits and RBI in all three games, totaling eight RBI and slashed a 1.364 slugging percentage and a .583 on-base percentage

• Last Wisconsin Freshman of the Week: Molly Schlossler (March 14, 2022)

HOCKEY

he Big Ten Conference and the Big Ten Network announced the 2024-25 Big Ten Hockey postseason awards on Tuesday. This year’s winners were revealed live on BTN’s B1G Today.

This year’s honors included individual awards, All-Big Ten teams, the All-Freshman Team and Sportsmanship awards. Voting was conducted by conference head coaches and a media panel.

Michigan State junior forward Isaac Howard was named Big Ten Player of the Year. The Hudson, Wis., native captured the Big Ten scoring title with 33 points in 24 conference games. He is the third Spartan to be named Player of the Year.

Minnesota sophomore defenseman Sam Rinzel was chosen Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Rinzel leads all Big Ten blueliners in scoring with 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 39 games. He becomes the sixth recipient of the award for the Gophers.

Michigan forward Michael Hage, a Montreal Canadien first round draft pick, received the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award after pacing conference rookies in scoring with 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists) in 22 league games. He is the seventh Wolverine player to earn the award.

Michigan State sophomore Trey Augustine was tabbed Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. He finished with a conference-best 12 wins in league play while recording the second-most saves (553). He is the second MSU goaltender to win the award and the first since 2015.

Steve Rohlik of Ohio State was selected as Big Ten Coach of the Year. He led a Buckeye squad picked seventh in the preseason poll to a third-place finish and an appearance in the Big Tournament Championship Game. It is the third time Rohlik has been named Coach of the Year, tying him with Minnesota’s Bob Motzko for the most awards among conference coaches.

The Big Ten also recognized seven Sportsmanship Award honorees. The students chosen are individuals who have distinguished through sportsmanship, academics, ethical behavior and citizenship.