Softball

HCAC 2026 Softball Notebook, Week 9

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

Athletes of the Week:
Player of the Week
Bo Shelton (Anderson, Ind.) Earlham College | Infield | Junior - Bo Shelton led Earlham at the plate in a 4-2 week of HCAC action. Shelton hit .500 with two doubles, one triple, and two home runs. Shelton led the team with seven runs scored and eight RBI, contributing 15 of Earlham's 24 runs this week. Shelton stole one base and struck out just once on the week.

Pitcher of the Week
Mollie Sharp (Hebron, Ky.) Mount St. Joseph University | Pitcher | Sophomore - Mollie Sharp was outstanding this week for Mount St. Joseph. She was 2-0 with two complete games. Through 14 innings, she allowed only three earned runs while striking out 11 and only walking one.

Notable Performances:
  • Paycee Lewis (Martinsville, Ind.) Anderson University | Infield | Sophomore - Paycee Lewis went 9-for-14 with three doubles, a triple, and two RBI. Lewis turned in a .643 batting average, a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
  • Leah Ramirez (Elida, Ohio) Bluffton University | Utility | Sophomore - Leah Ramirez hit .417 with three runs scored and two RBI as the Beavers went 2-2 on the week, including Bluffton's first win over Transylvania since 2014. She hit the game-winning two-run homer at Manchester on Thursday. She finished the week with a .750 slugging percentage and .533 on-base percentage.
  • Klary Mckay (Salem, Ohio) Bluffton University | Pitcher | Freshman - Klary McKay went 1-1 on the week with a 2.63 ERA in 16 innings with two complete games. She held the opposition to a .282 batting average. McKay worked around a one-out Manchester single in the bottom of the seventh in game two on Thursday, improving to 8-4 on the season after scattering eight hits over seven innings. She allowed just one run in 10 innings of work on Thursday, needing only 78 pitches in game two.
  • Morgan Cooksey (Williamsport, Ind.) Earlham College | Pitcher | Junior - Morgan Cooksey was dominant in her return to the circle this week, picking up three wins on three starts with two complete games. Cooksey allowed a 2.41 ERA over 20 1/3 innings in three conference wins, with a 1.09 WHIP and nine strikeouts.
  • Hadley Fuhrman (Haysville, Ind.) Franklin College | Shortstop | Senior - Hadley Fuhrman came up with some big hits during a critical week for Franklin. She had a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning of a 9-8 win over Hanover, then delivered the team's only offense with a two-run double in a 2-1 triumph over Manchester.
  • Lauren Duncan (Peru, Ind.) Franklin College | Pitcher | Junior - Duncan turned in three strong complete-game outings during a busy week, earning a pair of wins. She scattered 14 hits across 21 innings of work, striking out 15 and posting a 2.00 ERA. Duncan has a dozen victories on the year.
  • Lulu Van Beek (Noblesville, Ind.) Hanover College | Pitcher | Sophomore - Lulu Van Beek led Hanover throwing 15 complete innings with 17 strikeouts. She allowed just three free passes.
  • Morgan Bailey (Pickerington, Ohio) Hanover College | Utility | Freshman - Morgan Bailey led Hanover playing a pair of one-run games at Franklin. The freshman launched two home runs for a combined five RBI. She finished the week with a .800 slugging percentage. Bailey scored four runs on six hits.
  • Olivia Roney (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Manchester University | Outfield | Freshman - Olivia Roney appeared in three games for Manchester this past week, making an impact in all of her appearances. Roney went 6-for-9 at the plate with three runs scored and one RBI.
  • Skylar Fletcher (Greenville, Ohio) Mount St. Joseph University | Outfield | Junior - Skylar Fletcher was a catalyst in the bottom third of the Mount St. Joseph order all week, helping the team to a 3-1 record. For the week she was 7-for-11 with four runs scored an RBI and a hit-by-pitch.
  • Jessica Newsom (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Catcher/Infield | Junior - Jessica Newsom was a standout for Rose-Hulman as it went 3-3 against conference opponents this week. The team earned two wins over Berea and a win over Anderson. Newsom recorded a .476 batting average, totaling 10 hits, four runs scored, four doubles, one homer, and seven RBIs.
  • Aubrey Smith (Lebanon, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher/Third Base | Junior - Aubrey Smith led Rose-Hulman in the circle with 2-1 overall record, picking up wins over Anderson and Berea. For the week, Smith recorded a 3.68 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 19 innings. In her wins against Anderson and Berea, she pitched two complete games, allowing just one earned run in 14 innings. 
  • Avery Parsons (Walton, Ky.) Transylvania University | Outfield | Junior - Avery Parsons had a strong week at the plate for Transylvania. She recorded eight hits on the week, along with seven runs scored. Against RHIT, she scored a home run in Transylvania's win. She also recorded five stolen bases on the week.
  • Maddie Goddard (Union, Ky.) Transylvania University | Pitcher/First Base | Sophomore - Maddie Goddard went 3-0 on the week with wins against Rose-Hulman, Berea and Bluffton. Through three games and 11 1/3 innings pitched, she only allowed eight hits and four runs.

Looking Forward:
HCAC Softball Standings