Freiwald Named A-10 Rookie of the Year; Malito, Fretz All-Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Marla Freiwald was named as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as the conference announced its annual awards on Tuesday afternoon. Joining Freiwald in receiving A-10 accolades, Sierra Fretz and Hailey Malito were selected First Team All-Conference.
Freiwald is the third Hawk to be named the Atlantic 10's top rookie, joining Monica Aguilar in 2009 and Sarah Yoos in 2013. It is the first time since 2023 that SJU has been represented on the First Team and Malito and Fretz mark the first time since 2021 that St. Joe's has had multiple First Team honorees.
One of the top pitchers in any class in the A-10 this season, Freiwald is 8-3 with a 2.83 ERA, ranking seventh in the conference. She has allowed the fewest runs (38) and walks (11) of any qualified pitcher and is second in fewest earned runs (30). Her 1.04 BB/7IP leads the league and is eighth nationally while her five saves rank second in the Atlantic 10 and are 10th in NCAA Division I. Freiwald was also selected to the All-Rookie Team.
Malito has started all 51 games for the Hawks and is hitting .329 with three homers and 30 RBI. She is eighth in the A-10 in on-base percentage (.456) and ninth in OPS. Her 33 walks are sixth in the conference. The Frankfort, Ill. native has also been one of the top defensive players in the Atlantic 10 with a .990 fielding percentage, committing just four errors in 382 total chances, ranking second in the league with 366 putouts and being a part of 16 double plays.
Fretz was selected as First Team Utility for a year where she split time between third base and catcher and hit .290 with 10 homers and 31 RBI. The 10 long balls are fourth in the A-10 and her 31 driven in are 10th. She is just the seventh player in program history to connect for double digit homers in a season. Her .588 slugging percentage and 1.016 OPS are both fourth in the league. The senior from Green Lane, Pa. had an impressive stretch from March 29 through April 5 where all five of her hits went over the fence.
Saint Joseph's opens play in the Atlantic 10 Championship on Wednesday, taking on fourth seeded George Washington at noon.
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