May 19, 2010
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Sophomore pitcher/utility player Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) was named to the Big Ten's All-Conference Third Team on Wednesday evening in voting conducted by the league's coaches. Senior Ashley Griffith (Mt. Laurel, N.J.) was named a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Akamine, the team's Most Improved Player award recipient, posted a record of 15-8 with a 2.92 earned run average while hitting .267 overall this season. In Big Ten play, Akamine went 5-4, while hitting .275.
Akamine's sophomore campaign saw her take a big step forward pitching-wise as she led the team in wins (15), upping her total by nine from her freshman season. Also, Akamine lowered her ERA by 1.35 with a stretch of play during the middle of the season that saw her go 11-1 with a 1.01 ERA in 14 appearances. Akamine was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 29 for the first time in her young career when she went 18.1 innings of two-run ball striking out 23 and giving up just three walks with a 2-0 record.
The sophomore hurler also matched the school-record in a game, which is 15, when she fanned 15 Syracuse batters in an April 27 contest matching the feat of Missy Beseres from 2005. Earlier this season, Akamine downed 14 Michigan State batters by strikeout April 14 in an eight-inning affair with no walks against. Last season, Akamine was an All-Big Ten selection as a designated player. Akamine's All-Big Ten honor is the 45th for a Penn State softball player, all of which have come under the direction of head coach Robin Petrini.
Griffith, a senior co-captain, capped her Penn State career by being named a Sportsmanship Award honoree. The 2009 All-Big Ten Second Team mention started in every game this season in left field, while earning the Blue-White Award on the Penn State squad for dedication, unity and loyalty to the program.
The ultimate team player, Griffith led the nation in sacrifices this season with 22, producing 55 in her four years, good for second all-time at PSU. She graduated as the Nittany Lions' career fourth-best run scorer and 10th in career steals. Griffith was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II First Team earlier this month.
The Nittany Lions finished the season with a 29-22 overall record and 8-11 in Big Ten competition. The 29 wins was a 10-victory improvement over last season with a young team that had just one departing senior in its everyday lineup, Griffith. Next year expects to be an exciting season in Happy Valley with the opening of Nittany Lion Softball Park, home of Beard Field, in March 2011. The Nittany Lions open 2011 play in February.
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion softball this season, visit GoPSUsports.com.
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--NITTANY LIONS--