LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tennessee pitcher Sage Mardjetko has been named the 2026 SEC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday.
A native of Lemont, Illinois, Mardjetko is pursuing an undergraduate degree in biological sciences, biochemistry and cellular & molecular biology and possesses a 3.81 GPA.
Mardjetko has been dominant in the circle this season, posting a conference-best 0.99 ERA and a 12-1 record. In 25 appearances, she has recorded a career-high 147 strikeouts over 105.2 innings. In SEC play, she owns a league-best 1.07 ERA with a 6-1 record and 64 strikeouts across 59.0 innings. She also tossed her first career no-hitter on Feb. 22 against Southern Illinois.
Off the field, Mardjetko has earned numerous academic honors. She was named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and the 2025 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll. She is a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete and was a member of the 2023-24 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Mardjetko becomes the sixth Lady Vol to earn SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, joining Lindsay Schutzler (2007), Lillian Hammond (2009), Ellen Renfroe (2014), Cailin Hannon (2021) and Ashley Rogers (2023).
