Northwestern University Athletics
2026 Softball Roster
Jersey Number 18
Emma Blea
- Height:
- 5-9
- Class:
- Sophomore
- High School:
- Clovis North High School
- Hometown:
- Fresno, California
Pronunciation: blay (rhymes with slay)
2026: Picked up a win in her first appearance of the season against Memphis at the Kajikawa Classic, scattering three earned runs over 4.1 innings of work (2/8).
2025: Tossed 20.1 innings in 13 appearances on the season … Made her collegiate debut against No. 5 Tennessee, picking up her first career strikeout in an inning of work (2/8) … Struck out two in 2.2 innings of work against Longwood (3/1) … Struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief against No. 19 Mississippi State (3/21) … Racked up a career-high six strikeouts in just three innings of work against Northern Illinois (3/26) … Threw three scoreless innings and struck out two against Notre Dame (4/1) … Struck out two in back-to-back scoreless innings against Loyola Chicago and Rutgers (4/16-20) … Tossed a shutout inning against Kentucky in her NCAA tournament debut (5/16).
Career Highs
Innings Pitched....................................................4.1 vs. Memphis (2/8/26)
Strikeouts.......................................................6, vs. Northern Illinois (3/26/25)
High School: Ranked No. 21 overall player in the 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball … Posted a 1.24 ERA with an 0.067 on-base percentage allowed as a sophomore … As a junior, tallied a 1.40 ERA and 0.097 on-base percentage allowed … Member of 16U USA Softball High Performance Team … 2022 and 2023 Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American Finalist … Plays club softball for Ken and Roseann Briggs on the BSC Bengals Briggs 18U team … Was runner-up at 2022 TCS 16U National Championship … Honor roll student … CJSF and CSF Award recipient … Parents are Dale and Teri Blea … Brother, John, played football at Sacramento State … Anticipated major at Northwestern is legal studies.
Drohan on Blea: "Emma is a hard-throwing, athletic pitcher who can dominate from the circle. Her academic accomplishments and drive will have an immediate impact on our program."
Blea on Choosing Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the high-level academic and athletic programs that it offers. I also love the family-oriented atmosphere and integrity that the players and coaching staff provide. Evanston is the perfect fit and I feel right at home when I step on campus."
2026: Picked up a win in her first appearance of the season against Memphis at the Kajikawa Classic, scattering three earned runs over 4.1 innings of work (2/8).
2025: Tossed 20.1 innings in 13 appearances on the season … Made her collegiate debut against No. 5 Tennessee, picking up her first career strikeout in an inning of work (2/8) … Struck out two in 2.2 innings of work against Longwood (3/1) … Struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief against No. 19 Mississippi State (3/21) … Racked up a career-high six strikeouts in just three innings of work against Northern Illinois (3/26) … Threw three scoreless innings and struck out two against Notre Dame (4/1) … Struck out two in back-to-back scoreless innings against Loyola Chicago and Rutgers (4/16-20) … Tossed a shutout inning against Kentucky in her NCAA tournament debut (5/16).
Career Highs
Innings Pitched....................................................4.1 vs. Memphis (2/8/26)
Strikeouts.......................................................6, vs. Northern Illinois (3/26/25)
High School: Ranked No. 21 overall player in the 2024 class by Extra Innings Softball … Posted a 1.24 ERA with an 0.067 on-base percentage allowed as a sophomore … As a junior, tallied a 1.40 ERA and 0.097 on-base percentage allowed … Member of 16U USA Softball High Performance Team … 2022 and 2023 Premier Girls Fastpitch All-American Finalist … Plays club softball for Ken and Roseann Briggs on the BSC Bengals Briggs 18U team … Was runner-up at 2022 TCS 16U National Championship … Honor roll student … CJSF and CSF Award recipient … Parents are Dale and Teri Blea … Brother, John, played football at Sacramento State … Anticipated major at Northwestern is legal studies.
Drohan on Blea: "Emma is a hard-throwing, athletic pitcher who can dominate from the circle. Her academic accomplishments and drive will have an immediate impact on our program."
Blea on Choosing Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the high-level academic and athletic programs that it offers. I also love the family-oriented atmosphere and integrity that the players and coaching staff provide. Evanston is the perfect fit and I feel right at home when I step on campus."
Softball - Lauren Boyd Tosses Complete Game Shutout, 'Cats Blank Kentucky in NCAA Regional (5/16/25)
Friday, May 16
Softball - 'Cats Storm Back, Secure Series Victory at No. 8 UCLA (5/4/25)
Sunday, May 04
Softball - 'Cats Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win at No. 8 UCLA (5/2/25)
Saturday, May 03
Softball - Kaylie Avvisato Hits Walk-Off Home Run, 'Cats Take Series vs. Wisconsin (4/27/25)
Sunday, April 27
