CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) softball teams competed in week six of the 2026 season.
 
Athletes of the Week:
Player of the Week
Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Ky.) Transylvania University | Pitcher/First Base | Senior - Raegan Gibson had a strong performance in both Transylvania wins at Hanover. In game one she went 4-for-4 at the plate, with four hits, including a home run, two runs, a stolen base, and three RB. In game two, she went 2-for-3 at the plate with two hits, three RBI, and a home run along with one stolen base.

Notable Performances:

• Bo Shelton (Anderson, Ind.) Earlham College | Infield | Junior - Bo Shelton hit .667 in a doubleheader against Wittenberg on Tuesday with one double, one home run, and three RBI.
• Shelby Messer (Pendleton, Ind.) Earlham College | Pitcher | Sophomore - Shelby Messer earned the win over Wittenberg on Tuesday, tossing a three-run (two earned) complete game. Messer scored five strikeouts and surrendered six hits in the outing.
• Jaylee Fansler (Bainbridge, Ind.) Franklin College | Second Base | Sophomore - Jaylee Fansler went 8-for-13 with a home run, three doubles, seven runs scored, and five batted in as Franklin went 3-1 during their spring break trip to Tennessee. The sophomore was 3-for-3 with a three-run home run and an RBI double in a victory at Maryville and she was 4-for-7 with five runs scored and an RBI double during a twinbill sweep of Sewanee. Fansler is batting .508 on the year with a 1.414 OPS, four homers and 22 RBI.
• Kara Burgan (West Salem, Ohio) Manchester University | Pitcher | Sophomore - Kara Burgan threw a complete-game shutout on Friday against Berea. Burgan allowed just four hits en route to her second win of the season.
• Kendal Rider (Otterbein, Ind.) Manchester University | Outfield | Junior - Kendal Rider put on a show for the Spartans this past week. In three games, one against Heidelberg and two against Berea, Rider went 6-for-9 at the plate with three RBI and one double. Rider was also a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen bases across the three games.
• Shelby Rakosky (Fortville, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Third Base | Sophomore - Shelby Rakosky led Mount St. Joseph to a sweep of Rose-Hulman on Saturday. In the double-header she was 5-for-7 with a home run, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. On the season Rakosky is hitting .519, with two home runs and 30 RBI.
• Mollie Sharp (Hebron, Ky.) Mount St. Joseph University | Pitcher | Sophomore - Mollie Sharp threw a complete game against Rose-Hulman on Saturday. She earned the win allowing four hits and only one earned run while striking out three.
• Aubrey Smith (Lebanon, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher/Third Base | Junior - Aubrey Smith was a standout hitter for Rose-Hulman in its doubleheader against Mount St. Joseph. Smith went 2-for-5 at the plate with one run scored and a .400 batting average. She also totaled one triple and two walks across both games of the doubleheader.
• Audrey Theuring (Mason, Ohio) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Pitcher | Junior - Audrey Theuring led the pitching staff for Rose-Hulman. She suffered a loss in the circle against Mount St. Joseph, totaling six innings pitched with two strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA.
• Maddie Goddard (Union, Ky.) Transylvania University | Pitcher | Sophomore - Maddie Goddard had a strong performance against HCAC competition at Hanover in Transylvania's 8-1 victory. Goddard pitched 5 2/3 innings, only allowing two hits and one run. She had three strike outs and one error. She currently leads all Transylvania pitchers with a 2.48 ERA.

Looking Forward:
HCAC Softball Standings

Around the League:
HCAC Softball Schedule