Lexi Hastings named BIG EAST Player of the Year, Five Huskies receive conference honors

NEW YORK – UConn junior outfielder, Lexi Hastings was announced as the 2024 BIG EAST Player of the Year on Tuesday afternoon. Hastings becomes the fifth player in program history to receive the prestigious award. Five other Huskies were selected to the BIG EAST first and second teams. 

Hastings was phenomenal in BIG EAST play at the top of the Huskies lineup, leading the league in batting average (.500), hits (37), on base percentage (.537), triples (2), and stolen bases (16). She finished second in total bases (52), third in runs scored (22), and fifth in slugging percentage (.703). Hastings was just as good on defense in the outfield for the Huskies, owning a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 34 putouts and two assists. The Virginia native becomes the first Husky since 2008 (Micah Truax) to receive Player of the Year honors from the BIG EAST conference. Hastings has received all-conference honors in each of her first three seasons in Storrs.

In addition to being named Player of the Year, Hastings was selected to the All-BIG EAST first team for the second consecutive year, along with classmate, junior infielder Rosie Garcia. The California native has been a mainstay in the heart of UConn's lineup all season long. In conference play, Garcia was second in home runs (7), and slugging percentage (.727), while holding a .333 batting average driving in 22 runs for the Huskies. She had two multi-homer games against Butler and Villanova this season.

Three Huskies were named to the All-BIG EAST second team in Payton Kinney, Grace Jenkins, and Hope Jenkins. Kinney has been dominant in the circle in conference play this season, going 8-2 while holding a 2.04 era across 61.2 innings pitched. Her 73 strikeouts rank fourth in the conference. She has held BIG EAST hitters to a .177 batting average against her this season. 

Grace Jenkins picks up conference honors for a second year in a row after being tabbed BIG EAST Freshman of the Year a season ago. In her sophomore season, Jenkins has picked up right where she left off from her freshman campaign, leading the Huskies in runs batted in (38), doubles (16), and walks (21), despite missing five games this season. The California native has been sturdy as the Huskies backstop this season, catching in 16 of UConn's 24 conference games. She holds a .994 fielding percentage with only one error in 158 putouts.  

Hope Jenkins receives all-conference honors for the first time in her career. The sophomore has been dynamic both at the plate and in the circle for the Huskies this season. At the dish, Jenkins has seven homers, with eleven doubles, and 31 runs batted in. In the circle, Jenkins owns a 1.07 era in conference play across 19.2 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts. She has held BIG EAST hitters to a .208 batting average against her this season. 

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