LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Penn State softball freshman pitcher Bridget Nemeth became the first student-athlete in program history to appear on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Freshman of the Year Top 25 Watch List, the organization announced in a release Thursday afternoon.
One of the most decorated freshman athletes in Penn State history, Nemeth collected her first national recognition from the NFCA, adding to her pair of appearances as the National Freshman of the Week according to D1Softball earlier this season. Additionally, Nemeth already owns the Penn State single-season record for Big Ten weekly awards with four, surpassing legendary pitcher and 2023 graduate Bailey Parshall's single-season record of two earlier this season.
Nemeth ranks as one of the most dominant pitchers in the nation and Big Ten Conference, leading the league with a 21-3 individual record while ranking third nationally in total victories behind Texas State's Jessica Mullins and Southern Illinois' Maddia Groff. PSU's ace currently boasts a 1.43 season ERA, the second-best mark in the Big Ten and 22nd-best nationally while simultaneously managing a 5.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, the best tally in the B1G and 22nd-best in Division I. Nemeth also boasts the most saves in the Big Ten Conference, tying for first with four alongside Northwestern's Ashley Miller and Nebraska's Kaylin Kinney.
With the Nittany Lion win against Saint Francis on Tuesday, April 23, Nemeth continued her ascendence through the Nittany Lion record book, moving into sole possession of third all-time at PSU for victories in a single season following her 21st winning decision. Nemeth, a native of Glendora, California, now trails Nittany Lion legends in Parshall and Kelly McCann for the most wins all time, needing just one more victory to tie and two to surpass the record of 22.
Nemeth became the first player in school history to garner a position in the top 25 for the nation's highest freshman honor, with the Nittany Lions joining nine other programs with first-time honorees. PSU stands alongside Dartmouth, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, FDU, Harvard, Portland State, Princeton, Saint Mary's and UNLV as first-time recipients of an appearance on the watch list. Nemeth also stands as the sole representative of the Big Ten Conference on the list, with the B1G joining 13 other leagues with at least one designee. The freshman phenom is one of nine pitchers in the top 25, standing alongside SIU's Groff, Dartmouth's Jensin Hall, Texas' Teagan Kavan, Eastern Illinois' McKenzie Oslanzi, Florida's Keagan Rothrock, Eastern Kentucky's Maddi Rutan, FDU's Brooklyn Shroyer and New Mexico State's Desirae Spearman.
Nemeth and the Nittany Lions return to Big Ten Conference competition for their penultimate series in the 2024 regular season, with the Blue & White set to host a three-game set against the Michigan Wolverines at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field beginning Friday and concluding Sunday, April 26 through 28. All three games, including Friday's Wear White game and Sunday's Senior Day presented by the Penn State Alumni Association will stream live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+ and the B1G+ app.
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