Elon Butler and Taryn Ho were named Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, following Oregon’s sweep of Iowa, according to an announcement on Apr. 6.
The recognition highlights standout individual achievements during a successful series for the Oregon Ducks women’s softball team. Such honors underscore the impact of player performance on both team success and conference recognition.
Butler made program history by becoming the first player to hit for the cycle in a single game. She also set new Big Ten and school records with six hits in that game. Her four runs scored matched a program record. Over the weekend, Butler posted a .583 batting average with extra-base hits including a double, triple, two home runs, and five runs batted in (RBI). She led off Friday’s opener with a home run as Oregon won 10-1. On Saturday, her seventh-inning double sparked a rally that helped tie the game before she eventually scored the winning run in extra innings.
Ho contributed significantly as well, hitting .556 across three games with five RBIs and one triple. In Saturday’s comeback win—where Oregon prevailed 14-13 in eight innings—Ho delivered key hits at crucial moments: she drove in two runs with a triple during an early deficit and later added more hits that helped close Iowa’s lead. Defensively, Ho was perfect at shortstop over three games with no errors recorded.
The announcement also noted other recent accolades within the team: Lyndsey Grein was named Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 24.
With these performances earning conference-wide attention, observers will watch to see how Butler’s historic achievement and Ho’s consistent play continue to influence Oregon’s season.
