LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Penn State softball freshman pitcher Bridget Nemeth added further recognition on the national stage to her record-breaking resume Thursday afternoon, with the rookie star garnering a placement on the Top 10 Watch List for the Tucci/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Award, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced.
Earlier this season, Nemeth became the first student-athlete in program history to garner national recognition from the NFCA for an individual award, picking up a spot on the Top-25 Watch List a few weeks ago. Her record-shattering season in the circle and at the plate has warranted national acclaim from multiple organizations, including a pair of appearances as D1Softball's National Freshman of the Week earlier this year. The Glendora, California, native boasts the single-season program record for both D1Softball and Big Ten Conference national accolades, amassing six different awards over the course of her debut season.
With her distinction as the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, as announced on Wednesday, May 8, Nemeth became the first student-athlete in Penn State history to earn an individual award from the conference office since PSU joined the B1G in the 1991-92 academic year. Nemeth also becomes the first student-athlete to win a conference individual award since Nan Sichler was named the Atlantic 10 Conference Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher in 1988. Nemeth additionally collected unanimous First Team All-Big Ten recognition, landing a spot as one of the top three pitchers in the league. To cap things off, Nemeth added distinction as a member of the B1G All-Freshman Team in the conference office's release Wednesday.
Nemeth's 22-6 overall record continues to lead the Big Ten Conference, with the newly crowned B1G Freshman of the Year and NFCA Freshman of the Year top-10 athlete tying the Nittany Lion program record for wins in a campaign with her 22nd against Rutgers on Friday, May 3. Nemeth has pitched 192.0 innings in the circle, the seventh-most innings pitched in a single season in Penn State program history in addition to the most innings pitched among all B1G pitchers in 2024. Her impact was instrumental in Penn State recording the best start to a campaign in program history, with the right-hander lifting PSU to its first victory over a nationally ranked opponent since 2022 in a 3-2, eight-inning victory over then-No. 16 Arkansas to kickstart Penn State's historic 8-0 opening to the 2024 season.
Due in large part to Nemeth's consistent success in the circle, the Nittany Lions boast a 34-18 overall record and accumulated 12 Big Ten Conference victories, with both marks standing in the top four all-time at PSU for victories in a single season. The Blue & White made their third consecutive postseason appearance in the 2024 B1G Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa, earlier this week, marking the first instance of three-straight postseason trips since the Nittany Lions made five-straight trips to the B1G Tournament from 2013 to 2017.
Penn State awaits its postseason fate in the 2024 NCAA Division I Softball Championship, with the Nittany Lions seeking their first selection to the field of 64 since the 2011 team hosted the University Park Regional at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. PSU's postseason fate, as well as the final tournament bracket will be announced to a worldwide audience on Selection Sunday, May 12, with a 7 p.m. (ET) program tabbed for national broadcast via ESPN2 and the ESPN app.
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