POCATELLO, Idaho — The Big Sky Conference announced its 2026 softball award winners Thursday, and Idaho State University collected seven All-Big Sky selections along with major individual hardware, the league office revealed. Marley Goluskin headlined the Bengal haul by earning Pitcher of the Year honors, while head coach Andrew Rich was named Co-Coach of the Year as ISU finished conference play with a 10-5 record.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Marley Goluskin was a unanimous selection to the First Team and earned the conference's top pitching award after a dominant 2026 campaign. The right-hander went 11-4 in 20 appearances, including 18 starts, with a 2.39 ERA over 99.2 innings pitched. Goluskin struck out 77 batters while walking just 33, held opposing hitters to a .249 average, and posted four shutouts. She was also a workhorse in complete games, finishing eight of her starts, a mark that stands as one of the best in the Big Sky.
CO-COACH OF THE YEAR
Andrew Rich was named Co-Coach of the Year alongside Montana's Stef Ewing after guiding the Bengals to a 34-18 overall record and a 10-5 mark in Big Sky play. Idaho State posted a 17-5 home record and won eight straight at one point during the season, finishing with a current two-game winning streak heading into the postseason.
FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG SKY
Jenna Kearns earned a unanimous First Team selection at catcher, anchoring an Idaho State battery that ranked among the conference's best. The catcher hit .340 with 27 RBI, 18 doubles and a .582 slugging percentage across 50 games. She committed just two errors in 224 total chances for a .991 fielding percentage and threw out seven stolen base attempts behind the plate.
Sydney Groves was honored at first base after a breakout offensive season. The first baseman batted .342 with a conference-quality .763 slugging percentage, driving in 58 runs with 18 home runs and 10 doubles across 52 games. Groves posted an OBP of .434 and made just seven errors in 312 chances at first base, posting a .978 fielding percentage.
Alyssa Yee was a unanimous First Team outfield selection after posting one of the top offensive lines on the squad. The outfielder hit .382 with 16 home runs, 40 RBI and 63 hits in 52 games, slugging .630 with an OBP of .440. Her 14 stolen base attempts and production from the leadoff spot made her one of the most dynamic players in the Big Sky.
Ava Brown earned a First Team outfield berth with a .323 average, 12 home runs and 31 RBI across 52 games. Brown slugged .677 and reached base at a .408 clip, providing power from the middle of the Bengal order. She committed just one error in 71 total chances in the outfield.
Joining Goluskin on the mound as a First Team selection was Kasey Aguinaga, who went 14-4 in 26 appearances with a 2.99 ERA over 103.0 innings. Aguinaga struck out 68 batters, walked 45, and held opponents to a .269 average with a 1.46 WHIP.
SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG SKY
Camryn McDonald earned Second Team honors at shortstop after leading the Bengals in batting average at .421 with 53 hits, 36 runs scored and three home runs in 49 games. McDonald slugged .524 with a .486 OBP, 15 RBI and 14 stolen base attempts. Defensively, she committed six errors in 191 total chances (.969 fielding percentage) at a demanding position.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jaden Moore and Kira Day rounded out Idaho State's honorable mention selections. Moore hit .381 across 40 games with a .619 slugging percentage, five home runs and 21 extra-base hits. Day batted .326 in 41 games with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and a .742 slugging percentage, providing versatile production as a non-pitcher/utility selection.
2026 BIG SKY SOFTBALL AWARD WINNERS
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State
Pitcher of the Year: Marley Goluskin, Idaho State
Freshman of the Year: Kailee Mejia, Montana
Co-Top Newcomer of the Year: Carah Sweet, Montana / Madi Mendoza, Sacramento State
Co-Coach of the Year: Andrew Rich, Idaho State / Stef Ewing, Montana
First Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Jenna Kearns, Idaho State * unanimous
First Base: Sydney Groves, Idaho State
Second Base: Katie Walling, Northern Colorado
Shortstop: Anna Cockhill, Montana
Third Base: Madison Evers-Lyles, Sacramento State
Outfield: Lafulafu Malepeai, Sacramento State * unanimous
Outfield: Alyssa Yee, Idaho State * unanimous
Outfield: Ava Brown, Idaho State
Pitcher: Marley Goluskin, Idaho State
Pitcher: Kasey Aguinaga, Idaho State
Pitcher/UTL: Sherreigh Nakoa-Chung, Portland State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Ella Gonzales, Northern Colorado
* — unanimous selection
Second Team All-Big Sky
Catcher: Shannon Garcia, Sacramento State
First Base: Amailee Morales, Northern Colorado
Second Base: Grace Lopez, Montana
Shortstop: Camryn McDonald, Idaho State
Third Base: Breanna Lutz, Portland State
Outfield: Jordan McMahon, Weber State
Outfield: KK Christie, Northern Colorado
Outfield: Saskia Raab, Sacramento State
Pitcher: Alexa Ortiz, Sacramento State ^
Pitcher: Kennedie Bacon, Sacramento State ^
Pitcher: Carah Sweet, Montana ^
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Jojo Christiaens, Montana
^ — three-way tie in voting
All-Big Sky Honorable Mention
Catcher: Jordan Hart, Weber State
First Base: Kailee Mejia, Montana
First Base: Apple Maldonado, Weber State
Second Base: Sadie Kirk, Weber State
Shortstop: Madi Mendoza, Sacramento State
Shortstop: Krista Francia, Northern Colorado
Third Base: Hayden Nelson, Northern Colorado
Outfield: Jaden Moore, Idaho State
Outfield: Mackenzie Bekofsky, Montana
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Kira Day, Idaho State
Non-Pitcher/UTL: Abigail Carsley, Portland State
Honorable Mention selections received at least 3 votes
