Feb. 18, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior outfielder Cassidy Bell earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after a standout weekend at the Troy Cox Classic in Las Cruces, N.M., the conference office announced Monday afternoon. The award is the second of her career and first for a Penn State player since Kasie Hatfield picked it up April 16, 2012.
Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) continued her offensive excellence from the 2012 season during Penn State's opening weekend in Las Cruces, N.M., Feb. 15-17. The senior center fielder pushed her current hitting streak to 16 contests by recording at least one hit in all five games at the tournament, including three multi-hit efforts. Bell hit .600 (9-15) from the plate and slugged 1.333 with a trio of home runs to finish the weekend with nine RBI while adding four stolen bases and five runs of her own on the base paths.
Her offensive contributions helped Penn State take the last two games of the tournament against New Mexico State and Missouri-Kansas City by a combined 20-4 score.
Bell continues her ascent in the Penn State career record book. Now with 30 doubles, she sits in a tie for seventh all-time with Leigh Murray (2002-06) and is currently tied for fourth in home runs (20) with Desi Giordano (2008-11) and Jen Acunto (2005-08).
The Nittany Lions (2-3, 0-0 Big Ten) continue their season at the Carolina Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday and Sunday. Penn State will face squads from George Washington, North Dakota State, Iowa State and North Carolina at the tournament.