Iowa softball shortstop Megan Blank has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week following this weekend’s three-game series at Northwestern, the league office announced on Monday.

Blank excelled offensively and recorded no outs from the plate through the first two games. She finished the weekend with a .667 batting average and collected 4 runs and 5 RBIs on 4 hits.

The California native leads the team in eight separate offensive categories, including her .412 batting average, .639 slugging percentage, and .525 on-base percentage. The freshman has racked up 21 walks, 11 doubles, and 4 triples on the season while only striking out 9 times; she has worked 21 walks and has been hit by 3 pitches.

This is Blank’s second time to earn the Big Ten Freshman of the Week. She last claimed the title after the Hawkeyes’ first tournament of the season in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 13.

— by Molly Irene Olmstead