Tennessee softball's Sage Mardjetko is proving that excellence on the mound and in the classroom can go hand in hand. The junior pitcher was named the 2026 SEC Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a prestigious honor announced by the league office on Wednesday.

A native of Lemont, Illinois, Mardjetko is pursuing a demanding undergraduate degree in biological sciences, with a focus on biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology. Her dedication to academics is reflected in an impressive 3.81 GPA.

On the field, her performance has been nothing short of dominant. Mardjetko boasts a league-leading 0.99 ERA with a 12-1 record across 25 appearances this season. She has racked up a career-high 147 strikeouts over 105.2 innings, showcasing her ability to overpower hitters.

In SEC play, she has been even sharper, posting a conference-best 1.07 ERA and a 6-1 record with 64 strikeouts in 59.0 innings. One of the season's highlights came on February 22, when she threw her first career no-hitter against Southern Illinois—a milestone that underscores her growing dominance.

Mardjetko's academic accolades extend beyond this latest honor. She was named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and earned a spot on the 2025 Spring Academic Honor Roll. A two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar Athlete, she also made the 2023-24 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.

With her combination of elite pitching and academic discipline, Sage Mardjetko is a true standout in collegiate softball—a player who represents the best of what student-athletes can achieve.