March 28, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State softball student-athletes Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) and Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) were recognized by the Big Ten Conference for their efforts in the Nittany Lion sweep of Wisconsin this past weekend. Akamine was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, while Bell took home Co-Player of the Week honors with Liz Watkins of Iowa.
Akamine allowed a lone hit in 8.2 innings of work while winning Saturday's inaugural game at Beard Field for the Nittany Lions and starting Sunday's victory against Wisconsin. Akamine proved instrumental in the win over the Badgers on Saturday, coming in relief to earn the win while pitching 3.2 innings of scoreless and hitless softball and adding an inside-the-park home run, the first at the facility as Penn State won 8-5.
On Sunday, Akamine started the game and went five strong innings giving up just one hit, a solo home run. Akamine's ERA was 0.81 this week and she held the Badgers to .037 hitting at the plate in the sweep. This is the second Big Ten weekly honor for the two-time All-Big Ten Third-Team honoree as she was Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 29, 2010 following the first weekend of Big Ten play.
Bell captures her first Big Ten weekly honor as Co-Player of the Week for her four-double effort against the Badgers this weekend. The sophomore centerfielder was only retired once all weekend by the Wisconsin pitching staff as she hit .667 with two RBI and game-tying run on Sunday in the eighth inning. Bell added two stolen bases and two runs scores as Wisconsin failed to get her out on Sunday during PSU's 3-2 victory. The last Nittany Lion to take home Player of the Week honors was Danielle Kinley on Feb. 13, 2007.
Penn State travels to Pittsburgh tomorrow for a doubleheader against the 22-6 (3-0 Big East) Panther squad. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at brand new Petersen Sports Complex. Gametracker will be available for both matchups as will Twitter (www.twitter.com/PSULionSoftball).
--NITTANY LIONS--