Softball

MVC Softball Weekly Notebook (2-24-2026)

This week's Missouri Valley Conference softball award winners include UNI's Skylar Benesh, Belmont's Maya Johnson, Evansville's Emma McDonald, and UNI's Ashlyn Enke.

KEY LINKS
National Statistics  |  Ranking Summary
NCAA Softball Record Book  |  MVC Softball Records (PDF)
MVC Standings  |  MVC Individual Stat Leaders  |  MVC Team Stat Leaders

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This Week's Featured Guest is First-Year UIC Head Coach Megan Coronado

Player of the Week
2B Skylar Benesh, UNI, So.
Benesh batted .500 in UNI's 4-2 week with 10 hits and eight runs in 20 at-bats and three walks. Benesh had three home runs and a double including two home runs in an extra-inning victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Benesh drove in four runs with a 1.000 slugging percentage and was 3-3 in stolen base attempts.

Pitcher of the Week
P Maya Johnson, Belmont, Sr.
Johnson went 2-0 last week with 25 strikeouts in 14.0 innings.  She allowed one run over her two complete-game victories, while blanking No. 14/18 Mississippi State in a 13-strikeout effort.

Newcomer of the Week
OF Emma McDonald, Evansville, So.
In Evansville’s trip to Central Arkansas, McDonald batted .444 with four hits in nine at-bats. She scored three runs while walking twice with one RBI. Friday’s win over UCA saw McDonald go 1-2 with a run and walk. Her top performance came in the win over Saint Louis where she went 2-4 with two runs, a triple, and RBI. She tripled to lead off the 8th inning before scoring the game-winning run. McDonald completed the weekend with a hit and walk in the rematch against Central Arkansas.

Freshman of the Week
P Ashlyn Enke, UNI, Fr.
Enke picked up her first two wins of the season last week with three appearances and a 2-0 record. Enke made one start and pitched 13.2 innings. The freshman struck out 16 batters as batters averaged .246 against her.

MVC Softball Headlines
  • Belmont defeated No. 14/18 Mississippi State, 1-0, over the weekend. Maya Johnson threw a complete-game shutout with 13 strikeouts while allowing just one hit over seven innings. She improved to 5-0 on the season, tossing 103 pitches in the win. The win marked Belmont's third SEC victory all time and its second win over Mississippi State since a 4-3 win on Feb. 13, 2013. 
  • UNI is coming off a 4-1 weekend at the Best on the Bayou tournament hosted by Louisiana-Monroe.  UNI continues its trip to the South on Tuesday, February 24, with a matchup against Louisiana. The Panthers are looking for the program's first all-time victory over the Ragin' Cajuns.
  • Marissa Jackson of Valpo had nine hits over the Beacons' six games last week, giving her 19 this season through 13 games - already more than halfway to her freshman year total of 37. Her weekend was highlighted by a four-hit performance in Valpo's Saturday win over Utah Valley, tying her for second on Valpo's single-game hit chart.
  • UIC's Cameran Rios had herself a weekend, going 12-for-23 with a .522 AVG, 6 runs, 5 RBIs, a double, a .522 OB% and one stolen base. On Sunday, Rios went 8-for-10 to help lead the Flames to one victory and an 8-8 tie (game called due to travel). Rios finished the day with four runs, three RBIs, a double, a .900 SLG%, a. 800 OB%, and a stolen base. 
  • Illinois State did not play this past week.  The Redbirds will be back in action at the Make It Happen Games in Maderia Beach, Fla., from Feb. 27-March 1.
  • Brooke Voss recorded four hits including the walk-off winner to lead Evansville to a 12-11 win over Saint Louis. Voss is second for the Aces in batting this year (.325).  Jess Willsey leads the team in hitting (.357), while Malihay Wilkins leads UE with three homers and 15 RBI.
  • Bradley heads to Richmond, Ky., this weekend for the EKU Colonel Classic with five games over a three-day weekend. The Braves have a pair of players among the league leaders in RBI.  Ashley Breeding and Kierston McCoy are tied for fourth in the league with 13 runs batted in.
  • Drake didn't play last week.  The Bulldogs will play five games from Feb. 27-March 1 against Miami (OH), Missouri, and Wichita State.
  • Mack Gallagher of Valpo slashed .471/.591/.706 for the week for Valpo and drove in seven runs, in the process extending her on-base streak to open the season to 13 consecutive games. Her weekend was highlighted by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a walk and a three-run homer in the Saturday win over Utah Valley - setting her highs in her time at Valpo for hits and runs scored. She also delivered a pair of RBIs in the Beacons' win over Merrimack and reached base three times (two hits and a walk) against host UNLV.
  • Sydney Potter of SIU hit two home runs and had five RBI during SIU's five games at the UAB Green and Gold Classic. Potter posted a slugging percentage of .588 and also had a double and two walks. The junior catcher homered vs. Missouri State and UAB during the tournament. With the two home runs, Potter is now up to 10 on the year, which is tied for the third-most in the NCAA.
  • Indiana State's Morgan Goodrich was a key anchor for the Sycamores during their weekend slate in Memphis.  She closed up this weekend with 6 runs, 4 stolen bases, and a .441 batting avg.
  • Belmont's Madison Dolecki hit .444 last week with a homer, triple, 4 RBI, 6 hits, 2 runs, and the game-winning RBI vs. No. 14/18 Mississippi State 
  • Freshman pitcher Hailey Lucas pitched in two games this past week for SIU at the UAB Green and Gold Classic and had another strong showing. The Palatine, Ill., native posted a 2.00 ERA with nine strikeouts and three walks in 14.0 innings pitched. Lucas recorded a 0.86 WHIP in her two appearances. Against Ole Miss, the freshman allowed just one earned run, three hits, and had zero walks with five strikeouts in 8.0 innings pitched.
  • Murray State's Karlye Graber had 14 strikeouts on the week across 13.1 innings, including a career high nine against North Dakota.  She had the victory for the Racers against Green Bay.