Photo by: Jim Pierce
Ricard Named Patriot League Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year
June 23, 2026 | Softball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After leading all three NCAA softball divisions with 33 victories and graduating magna cum laude from Boston University, Kasey Ricard has been named the Patriot League Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.
A three-time PL Pitcher of the Year and two-time PL Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Ricard recorded a 3.90 cumulative GPA to earn her bachelor's degree in health science alongside a minor in biology. The Littleton, Massachusetts, native posted a 33-8 record (3.07 ERA) alongside three saves and 13 shutouts, which ranked second most nationally, to help her senior class become the first in program history to capture all four conference tournament titles.
"Excellence on the field and excellence in the classroom were never separate goals for Kasey," Boston University softball head coach Ashley Waters said. "She was relentless in her pursuit of greatness in everything she did. The milestones, the records and the awards were destined to happen with her unwavering dedication and discipline. Being named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year to end her collegiate career is the perfect ending to a storybook career. Her journey of academic achievement with athletic brilliance will be remembered long after her last pitch. I am incredibly honored and grateful I had the opportunity to coach such an incredible human being."
Ricard beat out nearly 2,700 students across 13 PL sponsored sports to become the third Terrier women's student-athlete in four years and fourth overall to claim the prestigious League award after Vera Sjöberg (cross country/indoor and outdoor track and field, 2025), Caitlin Coker (softball, 2023) and Allison Barwise (outdoor track and field, 2014) were all previously recognized. Ricard is also just the third softball student-athlete in PL history dating back to 1992 to earn the honor alongside former teammate Coker and Bucknell's Lauren Wible (2005).
During the spring campaign, the BU softball program went 47-15 with a 16-2 conference mark to reclaim the PL regular season title and secure its eighth automatic NCAA bid dating back to Waters' first season at the helm in 2016. Ricard claimed notable non-conference wins against then-No. 16 Duke (2-1) and Maryland (3-0) before pitching a program-best sixth no-hitter against Bucknell. She later earned her second PL tournament MVP award by holding both Army West Point and Colgate to one run apiece at home.
Ricard finished with both BU and PL career records for wins (107), strikeouts (933) and shutouts (42) on her way to receiving the Mildred Barnes Award in April as BU athletics' top female student-athlete. Away from campus, Ricard has worked as a patient care technician at Tufts Medical Center after serving as a mobility intern at Boston Medical Center in the fall. She is currently competing with the Kansas City Diamonds of the new Professional Softball League (PSL).
A three-time PL Pitcher of the Year and two-time PL Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Ricard recorded a 3.90 cumulative GPA to earn her bachelor's degree in health science alongside a minor in biology. The Littleton, Massachusetts, native posted a 33-8 record (3.07 ERA) alongside three saves and 13 shutouts, which ranked second most nationally, to help her senior class become the first in program history to capture all four conference tournament titles.
"Excellence on the field and excellence in the classroom were never separate goals for Kasey," Boston University softball head coach Ashley Waters said. "She was relentless in her pursuit of greatness in everything she did. The milestones, the records and the awards were destined to happen with her unwavering dedication and discipline. Being named the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year to end her collegiate career is the perfect ending to a storybook career. Her journey of academic achievement with athletic brilliance will be remembered long after her last pitch. I am incredibly honored and grateful I had the opportunity to coach such an incredible human being."
Ricard beat out nearly 2,700 students across 13 PL sponsored sports to become the third Terrier women's student-athlete in four years and fourth overall to claim the prestigious League award after Vera Sjöberg (cross country/indoor and outdoor track and field, 2025), Caitlin Coker (softball, 2023) and Allison Barwise (outdoor track and field, 2014) were all previously recognized. Ricard is also just the third softball student-athlete in PL history dating back to 1992 to earn the honor alongside former teammate Coker and Bucknell's Lauren Wible (2005).
During the spring campaign, the BU softball program went 47-15 with a 16-2 conference mark to reclaim the PL regular season title and secure its eighth automatic NCAA bid dating back to Waters' first season at the helm in 2016. Ricard claimed notable non-conference wins against then-No. 16 Duke (2-1) and Maryland (3-0) before pitching a program-best sixth no-hitter against Bucknell. She later earned her second PL tournament MVP award by holding both Army West Point and Colgate to one run apiece at home.
Ricard finished with both BU and PL career records for wins (107), strikeouts (933) and shutouts (42) on her way to receiving the Mildred Barnes Award in April as BU athletics' top female student-athlete. Away from campus, Ricard has worked as a patient care technician at Tufts Medical Center after serving as a mobility intern at Boston Medical Center in the fall. She is currently competing with the Kansas City Diamonds of the new Professional Softball League (PSL).
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