For Immediate Release
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Player of the Week
#15 Daphne Evans (OF, 5-7, Fr., R/R, Chanhassen, Minn. / Chanhassen HS) - Minnesota Duluth
- Hit .643 (9-for-14) during the Bulldogs 5-1 week
- Owned a .750 on-base percentage and 1.000 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.750
- Tallied a hit or more in all six outings, including a season high of four hits against Truman State
- Drove in six RBIs off three doubles and one triple
- Recorded seven putouts in the field
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the second time this season (2/3/26)

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#22 Emmie Sylvia-Cochran (RHP, 5-6, Fr., R/R, Ham Lake, Minn. / Blaine HS) - Minnesota Duluth
- Earned a 3-0 record this week in 16 innings on the mound
- Her win against Roosevelt (7-0) was UMD’s first shutout of the season
- Allowed only nine hits while recording zero errors
- Struck out 28 batters, allowing only a .161 batting average

Others Top Performers  - Players
Alayna DeGraef (Bemidji State)
- Started all six games in left field at the Lewis Dome Invite
- Recorded 21 at bats with eight hits
- Scored two runs and drove in four
- Hit a double against Lewis
- Posted a perfect fielding percentage with six chances and six putouts
Trinity Gregg (Jamestown)
- Batted .476 (10-for-21) in six games from the leadoff spot
- Scored seven runs with two doubles, two triples, and five RBI
- Recorded three multi-hit games
- Posted a .762 slugging percentage and 1.362 OPS
Sara Van Wickler (Minot State)
- Hit safely in all four games while scoring a run in each game
- Finished 6-for-12 with six runs scored, three RBI, a triple, and two doubles
- Added a stolen base
- Recorded five putouts and one assist defensively
Megan Jochimsen (Sioux Falls)
- Went 4-for-7 (.571) in a doubleheader, including a 3-for-4 performance in game one
- Recorded a double and a .714 slugging percentage
- Reached base four times and helped generate offensive pressure
- Contributed defensively in the outfield
Aliza Acker (Southwest Minnesota State)
- Recorded three hits in six at bats during a series against Nebraska-Kearney
- Hit a double and her first career home run
- Drove in two runs across the series
- Drew a walk in both games
Kennedy Palmer (St. Cloud State)
- Hit .471 (8-for-17) during a 5-1 weekend
- Posted a .526 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage
- Recorded two doubles, two RBI, and two walks
- Tallied multiple runs in three games
- Finished with a perfect fielding percentage with eight putouts and seven assists
- Recorded multiple multi-hit games, including a three-hit performance
Bryn Elsenpeter (Winona State)
- Hit .429 with two doubles and one home run
- Scored three runs and drove in five
- Recorded multiple multi-hit games
- Helped team to a 3-1 record

Others Top Performers  - Pitcher
Abby Blair (Jamestown)
- Went 3-0 with a 0.50 ERA in three appearances with two starts
- Struck out 10 batters in 14 innings and held opponents to a .174 average
- Earned the win in a combined no-hitter, pitching the final three innings
Katie Newberry (Minot State)
- Threw a three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts in a win over Dakota Wesleyan
- Held opponents to a .130 batting average
- Recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in a complete game victory
Maddi Duncan (Sioux Falls)
- Threw a complete game allowing two hits and one run
- Struck out 11 batters and held opponents to a .083 batting average
- Generated nine groundouts while limiting scoring opportunities
Jordyn Marsh (Southwest Minnesota State)
- Earned a win with five innings pitched, allowing one hit and one walk
- Struck out 10 batters in the victory
- Also contributed offensively with two hits and an RBI
Macey Clark (St. Cloud State)
- Posted a 3-0 record with a 1.02 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 20.2 innings
- Threw two complete games during the weekend
- Held opponents to a .158 batting average
- Recorded games with 10 and 11 strikeouts
Kennadi Borngrebe (Wayne State College)
- Went 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 17 innings
- Threw a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts
- Allowed just one run across two complete game victories
- Also contributed offensively with a walk-off hit
Izzy Howe (Winona State)
- Recorded two complete game victories
- Struck out 15 batters in 13 innings
- Allowed just 10 hits and four earned runs
- Earned eight strikeouts in one game and seven in another
NSIC Softball Players of the Week
2/3/26
Player: #15 Daphne Evans - Minnesota Duluth
Pitcher: #24 Sarah Misner - Minot State
2/10/26
Player: #22 Tevan Bryant - Northern State
Pitcher: #23 Kennadi Borngrebe - Wayne State
2/17/26
Player: #5 Emma Humpal - SMSU
Pitcher: #15 Jayda Berg - Winona State
2/24/26
Player: #15 Daphne Evans - Minnesota Duluth (2)
Pitcher: #22 Emmie Sylvia-Cochran - Minnesota Duluth

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.