CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) softball teams competed in week two of the 2026 season.
 
Around the League:
HCAC Softball Schedule

Athletes of the Week:

Player of the Week:
Kaylee Grant (Lima, Ohio) Bluffton University | Third Base | Senior - Kaylee Grant hit a whopping .556, going 10-for-18 as Bluffton went 3-3 on the week. She had eight RBI and scored seven runs with two doubles, three walks, and a stolen base. Grant finished with a .667 slugging percentage and a .636 on-base percentage.

Pitcher of the Week:
Aubrey Smith (Lebanon, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher | Junior - Aubrey Smith was exceptional in the circle for Rose-Hulman on its Florida trip. Smith totaled a record of 4-1 with wins over Houghton, Albright, Anna Maria, and New England. She totaled 26 strikeouts in 33.0 innings with an ERA of 1.48. She finished the week allowing only 22 hits and seven earned runs across five games.

Notable Performances:

• Ariannah Jones (Danville, Ind.) Anderson University | Pitcher | Freshman - Ariannah Jones secured the win against Benedictine. She struck out one batter, issued one walk, and allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. She posted a 1.00 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP and a .192 opponent batting average.
• Avery Owens (Mooresville, Ind.) Anderson University | Outfield | Freshman - Avery Owens went 5-for-6 with two stolen bases as Anderson went 1-1 on the week.
• Emily Searcy (Nicholasville, Ky.) Berea College | Outfield | Sophomore - Emily Searcy had a breakout weekend. In three games, she drew two walks, went 4-for-4 in stolen bases, hit 6-for-11 with two doubles, seven runs, and two RBI.
• Klary Mckay (Salem, Ohio) Bluffton University | Pitcher | Freshman - Klary McKay went 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA in 20 innings of work as Bluffton went 3-3 for the week. She started three times and had a complete game, while striking out six batters.
• Lauren Duncan (Peru, Ind.) Franklin College | Pitcher | Sophomore - Lauren Duncan was close to perfect in Franklin's season opener, tossing a no-hitter in an 8-0 victory over Kalamazoo. The sophomore struck out four and walked none in the five-inning contest, facing the minimum 15 hitters.
• Jaylee Fansler (Bainbridge, Ind.) Franklin College | Second Base | Sophomore - Jaylee Fansler made her Franklin debut a memorable one, going 3-for-4 with three walks, a home run, three runs, and three RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Kalamazoo. She was 2-for-3 in the opener, delivering an RBI single in the first inning and another off the top of the left field wall to walk the game off in the fifth. In the nightcap, Fansler hit a solo homer and scored a pair of runs. She finished the weekend with a 2.357 OPS.
• Sydney Foy (Brownsburg, Ind.) Hanover College | Catcher | Sophomore - Sydney Foy led Hanover as it walked off the Sewanee Tigers twice to go 2-0 on the week. The sophomore helped the Panthers secure game one as she hit a bases-loaded, two-out single to right, scoring the game-winning run. She finished the week going 3-for-7 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored. Foy posted a .429 hitting percentage.
• Lulu Van Beek (Noblesville, Ind.) Hanover College | Pitcher | Sophomore - Lulu Van Beek helped Hanover secure a sweep of Sewanee as she pitched five complete innings in game one. She had six strikeouts allowing just two earned runs and a 2.80 ERA.
• Abigale Shearer (Brazil, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Infielder | Freshman - Abigale Shearer was a standout for Rose-Hulman at the plate during the team's Florida trip. Shearer totaled 10 hits, scoring four runs, with six RBI. She hit three triples on the week and totaled a batting average of .385. She led the team with a 1.130 OPS, a .615 slugging percentage, and an on-base percentage of .515. She also went a perfect three for three on stolen bases.

Looking Forward:
HCAC Softball Standings