NEW YORK – The 2024 BIG EAST softball major awards and all-conference selections were announced by the league on Tuesday. The major award winners and all-conference honorees were decided by a coaches' vote based on performance in conference this season. Butler's Cate Lehner was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team, while Ella White received All-BIG EAST Second Team honors.
 
The league's top four teams were represented among the five major awards, led by UConn outfielder Lexi Hastings, who was voted BIG EAST Player of the Year. Natalia Puchino, from Creighton, collected the BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Year award after posting a 1.78 ERA and producing twelve wins. The Bluejays also garnered the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year award, as the coaches selected shortstop Ashten Pierson. Seton Hall outfielder, Katey Brennan, was tabbed BIG EAST Freshman of the Year following her first season of play. Rounding out the major award winners, were the coaching staffs of Villanova and Creighton. Led by Bridget Orchard, Villanova won the regular season title, while Creighton, led by Krista Wood, finished in a tie for second.
 
An All-BIG EAST First Team and All-BIG EAST Second Team were also named, each consisting of 12 players, made up of at least two pitchers, with the remaining spots selected at-large.
 
Butler's Lehner, a sophomore from Indianapolis, produced the Bulldogs' best batting average in conference play, going 34-for-89 (.382). The right fielder produced seven RBI and scored 16 runs herself. She was 13-of-13 on steal attempts against BIG EAST opponents. Lehner was a Second Team selection in 2023.
 
White, a junior from Noblesville, led the Bulldogs with 22 RBI in BIG EAST competition and was second on the team with four home runs and four doubles. She was 23-for-69 (.333) in conference games, scoring 14 runs and drawing 14 walks.
 
No. 6 seed Butler opens the BIG EAST Tournament on Wednesday with a 3 pm first pitch against No. 3 seed Creighton. The double-elimination tournament in Providence, Rhode Island, is scheduled to run through Saturday.
 
 
2024 BIG EAST Softball Awards 
 
Player of the Year: Lexi Hastings, Jr., OF, UConn
Pitcher of the Year: Natalia Puchino, So., P, Creighton*
Defensive Player of the Year: Ashten Pierson, Fr., SS, Creighton
Freshman of the Year: Katey Brennan, Fr., OF, Seton Hall
Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year: Creighton & Villanova
 
First Team All-BIG EAST
Cate Lehner, So., RF, Butler
Rosie Garcia, Jr., INF, UConn
Lexi Hastings, Jr., OF, UConn
Ella Dalton, So., CF, Creighton
Cayla Nielsen, Sr., LF, Creighton
Natalia Puchino, So., P, Creighton*
Madeline Vejvoda, Sr., 2B, Creighton*
London Jarrard, Jr., SS, St. John's*
Katey Brennan, Fr., OF, Seton Hall
Kelsey Carr, Sr., P, Seton Hall
Olivia Gilbert, Jr., INF, Seton Hall
Lilly St. Jean, So., 2B, Villanova*
 
Second Team All-BIG EAST
Ella White, Jr., 3B, Butler
Grace Jenkins, C, UConn
Hope Jenkins, So., DP/P, UConn
Payton Kinney, Sr., P, UConn
Sydra Sevilla, Jr., RF, Creighton
Claire Turner, So., OF, Georgetown
Gabriella Lee, So., OF, Providence
Jess Bianco, So., OF, St. John's
Ana Serafinko, So., P/DP, St. John's
Ava Franz, Jr., SS, Villanova
Ally Jones, Gr., C, Villanova
Elaina Wagner, Jr., OF, Villanova
*Denotes unanimous selection