Photo by: Erica Lee
Beshears, Butler Earn Pair of B1G Weekly Honors
2/19/2024 4:00:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – For the first time in program history, Michigan State softball has earned two B1G weekly honors in the same week. Sophomore Britain Beshears was named Co-Player of the Week and freshman Jaeya Butler earned Freshman of the Week as announced by the Big Ten Conference office on Monday afternoon.
It's Michigan State's first B1G weekly honor since Feb. 14, 2022, when Ashley Miller was named Pitcher of the Week. Lea Foerster was MSU's last Player of the Week, earning the award on Feb. 27, 2017. Beshears is the 14th player all-time at Michigan State to earn Player of the Week. Butler is the seventh B1G Freshman of the Week in program history and the first since Miller on March 2, 2021.
Beshears helped power the Spartans to four victories at the Maverick Invitational in Arlington, Texas last weekend hitting four home runs in five games. The Novi, Mich. native hit .375 for MSU and drove in a team-high eight RBI. Beshears became the 25th player in program history to hit multiple home runs in the same game on Saturday, Feb. 17 against UT Arlington.
Butler was red-hot all weekend hitting .438 with two doubles and two home runs. Her eight runs scored led the Spartans while her five RBI ranked second on the team. Butler turned in multi-hit performances twice at the Maverick Invitational going 3-for-3 against Kansas City and 2-for-3 against then receiving votes Boise State. Butler's fifth inning three-run home run against the Broncos tied the game at 5-5 and allowed for the Spartans to complete the 8-5 comeback.
Nebraska's Sydney Gray was the other Co-Player of the Week recipient and Indiana's Brianna Copeland earned Pitcher of the Week.
It's Michigan State's first B1G weekly honor since Feb. 14, 2022, when Ashley Miller was named Pitcher of the Week. Lea Foerster was MSU's last Player of the Week, earning the award on Feb. 27, 2017. Beshears is the 14th player all-time at Michigan State to earn Player of the Week. Butler is the seventh B1G Freshman of the Week in program history and the first since Miller on March 2, 2021.
Beshears helped power the Spartans to four victories at the Maverick Invitational in Arlington, Texas last weekend hitting four home runs in five games. The Novi, Mich. native hit .375 for MSU and drove in a team-high eight RBI. Beshears became the 25th player in program history to hit multiple home runs in the same game on Saturday, Feb. 17 against UT Arlington.
Butler was red-hot all weekend hitting .438 with two doubles and two home runs. Her eight runs scored led the Spartans while her five RBI ranked second on the team. Butler turned in multi-hit performances twice at the Maverick Invitational going 3-for-3 against Kansas City and 2-for-3 against then receiving votes Boise State. Butler's fifth inning three-run home run against the Broncos tied the game at 5-5 and allowed for the Spartans to complete the 8-5 comeback.
Nebraska's Sydney Gray was the other Co-Player of the Week recipient and Indiana's Brianna Copeland earned Pitcher of the Week.
Players Mentioned
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Thursday, April 17
A Higher Standard | Spartans All-Access
Tuesday, February 11
Spartans All-Access: Jenae Wash
Thursday, April 11
Spartans All-Access: Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley
Thursday, April 20