Northwestern University Athletics
Marina Mason Named NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top-25 Finalist
4/23/2026 4:31:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – First-year year pitcher Marina Mason was named to the 2026 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25 list, the organization announced on Thursday afternoon.
Mason is one of six players from the Big Ten Conference to be a Top-25 finalist from the award–joining Bri Alejandre (UCLA), Aleena Garcia (UCLA), Alexis Jensen (Nebraska), Anna Moore (Purdue) and Allison Oneacre (Penn State)–as well as one of eight pitchers on the list.
Mason has put together a standout rookie campaign, leading Northwestern with 14 wins, a 2.21 ERA and 131 strikeouts across 117.1 innings pitched. She has held opponents to a .182 batting average, the lowest mark among all Big Ten pitchers, while her 4.68 hits allowed per seven innings ranks second nationally among first-year pitchers.
Entering this weekend's action, Mason holds a 2.21 ERA (37 ER/117.1 IP), which leads all Big Ten first-years and ranks third overall in the conference behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). Her 131 strikeouts on the season rank second among conference rookies behind only Jensen and are the most by a Wildcat freshman since Danielle Williams in 2019.
Most recently, Mason earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors after going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and two complete game shutouts in a weekend sweep of Michigan State. She did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched and limited Spartan hitters to a .125 batting average across three appearances.
Earlier this season, Mason was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Softball America National Pitcher of the Week following a dominant weekend at Illinois in which she went 2-0 with two complete games, posting a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) with 10 strikeouts while allowing just two hits across 50 batters faced. The performance was highlighted by her first collegiate no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Fighting Illini, marking the 54th no-hitter in program history and the first by a Northwestern rookie since 2011.
Mason is the third player in program history to be named a Top-25 finalist for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award, joining Rachel Lewis (2018) and Danielle Williams (2019). Williams went on to win the award in 2019, becoming the first and only Big Ten player to earn the honor.
The Top 25 list will be narrowed to 10 finalists on May 7, with three finalists announced on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26 prior to the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Mason is one of six players from the Big Ten Conference to be a Top-25 finalist from the award–joining Bri Alejandre (UCLA), Aleena Garcia (UCLA), Alexis Jensen (Nebraska), Anna Moore (Purdue) and Allison Oneacre (Penn State)–as well as one of eight pitchers on the list.
Among the nation's best ????
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) April 23, 2026
Marina Mason has been named an NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top 25 finalist! pic.twitter.com/8jnv59dFW9
Mason has put together a standout rookie campaign, leading Northwestern with 14 wins, a 2.21 ERA and 131 strikeouts across 117.1 innings pitched. She has held opponents to a .182 batting average, the lowest mark among all Big Ten pitchers, while her 4.68 hits allowed per seven innings ranks second nationally among first-year pitchers.
Entering this weekend's action, Mason holds a 2.21 ERA (37 ER/117.1 IP), which leads all Big Ten first-years and ranks third overall in the conference behind only Jordy Frahm (Nebraska) and Lyndsey Grein (Oregon). Her 131 strikeouts on the season rank second among conference rookies behind only Jensen and are the most by a Wildcat freshman since Danielle Williams in 2019.
Most recently, Mason earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors after going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and two complete game shutouts in a weekend sweep of Michigan State. She did not allow a run in 11.2 innings pitched and limited Spartan hitters to a .125 batting average across three appearances.
Earlier this season, Mason was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Softball America National Pitcher of the Week following a dominant weekend at Illinois in which she went 2-0 with two complete games, posting a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) with 10 strikeouts while allowing just two hits across 50 batters faced. The performance was highlighted by her first collegiate no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Fighting Illini, marking the 54th no-hitter in program history and the first by a Northwestern rookie since 2011.
Mason is the third player in program history to be named a Top-25 finalist for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award, joining Rachel Lewis (2018) and Danielle Williams (2019). Williams went on to win the award in 2019, becoming the first and only Big Ten player to earn the honor.
The Top 25 list will be narrowed to 10 finalists on May 7, with three finalists announced on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26 prior to the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballSoftball - 'Cats Earn Series Sweep, Earn 8-0 Run-Rule Win Over Michigan State (4/19/20)
Monday, April 20
Softball - Wildcats Secure Series Victory with 8-7 Win vs. Michigan State (4/18/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Marina Mason Tosses One-Hit Shutout, 'Cats Run-Rule Michigan State, 10-0 (4/17/26)
Saturday, April 18
Softball - Wildcats Earn Series Sweep at Penn State with 17-3 Run-Rule (4/12/26)
Sunday, April 12
