Indiana University Athletics
Kern Named Top-3 TUCCI/NFCA National Freshman of the Year Finalist
5/25/2023 2:00:00 PM | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana freshman second baseman Taryn Kern was named as one of the top-three finalists for the TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association committee announced on Thursday afternoon.
Kern started in all 62 games for the Hoosiers and finished the season with a .404 batting average. The freshman broke the program's single-season home run, RBI and run scored records.
More recently, Kern earned NFCA All-Region First Team in addition being named the Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Year and selected to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
The San Jose, Calif., native leads the Hoosiers offense as well as eight offensive statistical categories in the Big Ten: slugging percentage, OBS, OPS, RBI, home runs, walks, and hit by pitch and runs scored. She ranked third in conference in batting average and sixth in hits.
Kern wrapped the season with 23 long balls that tied the Big Ten Freshman single-season home run record. She is tied second in the nation behind Tennessee's KiKi Milloy.
The TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year is set to be revealed on May 30.
The TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. In order to be eligible for this award, each student-athlete must be a true freshman or a redshirt freshman and be nominated by their member head coach.
2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 3
NiJaree Canady, Stanford
D'Auna Jennings, Duke
Taryn Kern, Indiana
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Kern started in all 62 games for the Hoosiers and finished the season with a .404 batting average. The freshman broke the program's single-season home run, RBI and run scored records.
More recently, Kern earned NFCA All-Region First Team in addition being named the Big Ten Freshman and Player of the Year and selected to the All-Big Ten First Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team.
The San Jose, Calif., native leads the Hoosiers offense as well as eight offensive statistical categories in the Big Ten: slugging percentage, OBS, OPS, RBI, home runs, walks, and hit by pitch and runs scored. She ranked third in conference in batting average and sixth in hits.
Kern wrapped the season with 23 long balls that tied the Big Ten Freshman single-season home run record. She is tied second in the nation behind Tennessee's KiKi Milloy.
The TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year is set to be revealed on May 30.
The TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. In order to be eligible for this award, each student-athlete must be a true freshman or a redshirt freshman and be nominated by their member head coach.
2023 TUCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 3
NiJaree Canady, Stanford
D'Auna Jennings, Duke
Taryn Kern, Indiana
Follow Indiana Softball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#GoIU
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