The Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday that sophomore Jess Oakland won the conference’s softball player of the year award.
The San Jose, California native led the conference in runs scored (68), doubles (19), home runs (19), walks (36), batting average (.457), on-base percentage (.554), slugging percentage (.925), OPS (1.479) and total bases (150).
Oakland is the first Gopher to win the award since Kendyl Lindaman won it in 2017 and 2018.
The Gophers shortstop earned Big Ten Player of the Week twice on April 21 and May 1. Oakland was unanimously named to the All-Big Ten team. She was also named to the All-Big Ten defensive team.
Junior Taylor Krapf joined Oakland on the All-Big Ten first team. Graduates Sydney Strelow and Morgan DeBord made the All-Big Ten second team and All-Big Ten defensive team. Senior Jacie Hambrick won the team’s sportsmanship award.
