Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Marina Mason Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
4/20/2026 2:59:00 PM | Softball
ROSEMONT, Ill. – First-year Marina Mason was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.
Mason takes home the weekly award after finishing the weekend going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts while tossing a complete game shutout in each of her two starts to help lead Northwestern to a weekend series sweep over Michigan State.
Mason did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched throughout the weekend and limited Spartan batters to a .125 opposing average in three games. Mason now holds a 2.28 ERA on the season (37 ER/113.2 IP), which leads all rookies in the conference and ranks third behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). The Brentwood, Tennessee also holds a .181 opponent average on the season, which leads all Big Ten pitchers.
On Friday, Mason carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning en route to a one-hit shutout, striking out six in 5.0 innings of work as Northwestern opened its weekend with a 10-0 run-rule victory over Michigan State.
In Saturday's game, Mason entered in relief and allowed two hits in 1.2 innings of work, ultimately stranding the tying run on third base in the seventh inning with a game-sealing strikeout as the 'Cats prevailed, 8-7, over the Spartans.
Making her second start of the weekend on Sunday, Mason tossed six strikeouts in 5.0 innings and retired 15 of the 18 batters she faced en route to a two-hit shutout and an 8-0 Wildcats victory. Mason's five complete game shutouts on the year rank Top-10 in the nation and are second among all conference arms, trailing only Frahm.
This marks the second weekly award of the season for Mason, who also took home Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Softball America National Pitcher of the Week honors on March 23 after throwing her first collegiate no-hitter at Illinois on March 21. Mason is the first Wildcat to take home Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors since Ashley Miller did so on April 22, 2024.
Northwestern is currently riding a six-game winning streak after back-to-back series sweeps over Penn State and Michigan State. The Wildcats will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to DeKalb to face Northern Illinois at 6 pm CT, before heading on the road to Purdue this weekend from April 24-26.
Mason takes home the weekly award after finishing the weekend going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts while tossing a complete game shutout in each of her two starts to help lead Northwestern to a weekend series sweep over Michigan State.
Take a bow, Marina Mason ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 20, 2026
3-0 / 11.2 IP / 0 R / 13 K
.125 opp. AVG / 2 CG SHO
Your Big Ten Pitcher of the Week! pic.twitter.com/DcfXl6Ukes
Mason did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched throughout the weekend and limited Spartan batters to a .125 opposing average in three games. Mason now holds a 2.28 ERA on the season (37 ER/113.2 IP), which leads all rookies in the conference and ranks third behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). The Brentwood, Tennessee also holds a .181 opponent average on the season, which leads all Big Ten pitchers.
On Friday, Mason carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning en route to a one-hit shutout, striking out six in 5.0 innings of work as Northwestern opened its weekend with a 10-0 run-rule victory over Michigan State.
In Saturday's game, Mason entered in relief and allowed two hits in 1.2 innings of work, ultimately stranding the tying run on third base in the seventh inning with a game-sealing strikeout as the 'Cats prevailed, 8-7, over the Spartans.
Making her second start of the weekend on Sunday, Mason tossed six strikeouts in 5.0 innings and retired 15 of the 18 batters she faced en route to a two-hit shutout and an 8-0 Wildcats victory. Mason's five complete game shutouts on the year rank Top-10 in the nation and are second among all conference arms, trailing only Frahm.
This marks the second weekly award of the season for Mason, who also took home Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Softball America National Pitcher of the Week honors on March 23 after throwing her first collegiate no-hitter at Illinois on March 21. Mason is the first Wildcat to take home Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors since Ashley Miller did so on April 22, 2024.
Northwestern is currently riding a six-game winning streak after back-to-back series sweeps over Penn State and Michigan State. The Wildcats will be back in action on Tuesday as they travel to DeKalb to face Northern Illinois at 6 pm CT, before heading on the road to Purdue this weekend from April 24-26.
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballSoftball - 'Cats Earn Series Sweep, Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Michigan State (4/19/20)
Monday, April 20
Softball - Wildcats Secure Series Victory with 8-7 Win vs. Michigan State (4/18/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Run-Rule Michigan State, 10-0 (4/17/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Wildcats Earn Series Sweep at Penn State with 17-3 Run-Rule (4/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
