Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Christina Lin/Northwestern Athletics
Marina Mason Named NFCA National Freshman of the Year Top-10 Finalist
5/7/2026 1:05:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern Softball's Marina Mason was named a Top-10 finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Thursday.
Mason is one of four Big Ten players to be named a finalist for the award, joining Bri Alejandre (UCLA), Alexis Jensen (Nebraska) and Allison Oneacre (Penn State). She is also one of four pitchers to be a finalist for the award, joining Jensen, Bree Carrico (Virginia Tech) and Vic Morten (Alabama).
Mason has turned in a dynamic rookie campaign for Northwestern, leading the Wildcats in wins (18), strikeouts (170), ERA (2.42) and WHIP (1.12) — all of which also rank Top 5 among all Big Ten pitchers.
The Brentwood, Tennessee, native elevated her play to another level during the Big Ten season, posting a 13-3 record, a 2.00 ERA (27 ER/94.2 IP), 101 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP.
Mason went 10-0 with six complete games, four shutouts, a 1.54 ERA (12 ER/54.2 IP), and 62 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .150 batting average to close the regular season.
Mason earned both Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors following two stellar outings against Minnesota to conclude the regular season. The first-year went 2-0 over two complete games, tallying a career-high 12 strikeouts while retiring 22 of 25 batters faced in a 6-0 win over the Golden Gophers on 5/3.
After a sensational weekend against Illinois, Mason was tabbed as Softball America's National Pitcher of the Week on March 23. 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-10 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 10 list will be trimmed to three finalists on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26 before the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Mason is one of four Big Ten players to be named a finalist for the award, joining Bri Alejandre (UCLA), Alexis Jensen (Nebraska) and Allison Oneacre (Penn State). She is also one of four pitchers to be a finalist for the award, joining Jensen, Bree Carrico (Virginia Tech) and Vic Morten (Alabama).
Mason has turned in a dynamic rookie campaign for Northwestern, leading the Wildcats in wins (18), strikeouts (170), ERA (2.42) and WHIP (1.12) — all of which also rank Top 5 among all Big Ten pitchers.
The Brentwood, Tennessee, native elevated her play to another level during the Big Ten season, posting a 13-3 record, a 2.00 ERA (27 ER/94.2 IP), 101 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP.
Mason went 10-0 with six complete games, four shutouts, a 1.54 ERA (12 ER/54.2 IP), and 62 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .150 batting average to close the regular season.
Mason earned both Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors following two stellar outings against Minnesota to conclude the regular season. The first-year went 2-0 over two complete games, tallying a career-high 12 strikeouts while retiring 22 of 25 batters faced in a 6-0 win over the Golden Gophers on 5/3.
After a sensational weekend against Illinois, Mason was tabbed as Softball America's National Pitcher of the Week on March 23. 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-10 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 10 list will be trimmed to three finalists on May 20. The winner will be revealed on May 26 before the start of the 2026 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Players Mentioned
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