Jensen Grabs First Big 10 Freshman OTW Award
It was announced Monday Alexis Jensen was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week thanks to getting it done both at the plate and in the circle in last weekend’s sweep of Wisconsin.
In the circle, she grabbed a pair of wins including a shutout to open things up Friday. For the weekend, she had an ERA of 0.64 and a WHIP of 0.636 striking out 13 batters and walking only 4 in 11 innings pitched. In her two appearances, she allowed only three hits total.
At the plate, she was 3-for-9 with all three hits
going for extra bases – 2 doubles and a home run. Shen knocked in 3 and scored 2 runs of her own, while being part of the nation’s best duo of two-way players with Jordy Frahm.
This is Jensen’s second Big Ten honor after being named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 16. It is her first Freshman of the Week award, which is pretty inexplicable if you think about it.
Other Notes
- A quick skim of the Big 10 weekly awards shows a lazy pattern of handing them out to the biggest statistical performances without a great regard for the opposition – note that no Huskers were selected for anything after taking the UCLA series, which is likely to end up as the biggest one of the season.
- This is not whining for more Husker awards – note that they have been taking them down fairly steadily against a Big 10 slate which is fairly weak minus the Bruins. The path to recognition is padding stats against the conference’s weaker foes.
- After a rough start, Michigan has playing their way back into NCAA contention currently now ranked 35th. Our RPI thanks you.
- And speaking of RPI boosters, we heartily thank Oklahoma State, against whom the Huskers went 1-1 against with a cancellation, for this!
- Minnesota is currently ranked #145 in the national RPI, which means a sweep can likely only do damage to the Huskers ranking. It appears they will avoid thunderstorms earlier in the day Friday, but Saturday is expected to be in the high 30’s with 20mph winds out of the north. Normally, I’m all for playing games, but if Mother Nature could jump in here with a cancellation? Honestly, not playing would have a better impact on their long-term goals than a win.
- Is the SEC dominance continuing after putting 14 of their 15 teams in the 2025 tourney? RPI-wise, they have 7 of the top 10, 10 of the top 20, and 15 of the top 50. If selection went straight off current rankings, they would host 9 of their 16 regionals, but would only put 13 teams in the NCAA’s. They’re slipping.
- Is this Nebraska’s best team ever? Obviously, there’s much left to unfold starting with can they become the 9th Husker squad to reach the WCWS? For now, let’s just say they’re playing their way into the conversation. The Huskers last qualified in 2013.
