March 15, 2010

Center Valley, Pa.--For the second straight week, Army senior pitcher Jessi Muckelroy stifled opposing batters, and for the second straight week, Muckelroy was honored for her efforts. Muckelroy was tabbed Patriot League Pitcher of the Week, the second straight time she has received the honor. Her teammate, sopohomore Rachel Duval, was named Patriot League Player of the Week. Lehigh's Liz Lucas received Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors.

Patriot League Softball Release - 3.15.10

Patriot League Player of the Week
Rachel Duval, Army So., IF/C, Auburn, Ga.
Duval batted .571 with two home runs and four RBI in two games last week. Duval also walked twice and scored four times in the Black Knights’ doubleheader sweep over Siena. She finished the evening with three straight hits. After back-to-back singles, Duval closed the nightcap with a solo home run in the sixth inning, her second blast of the doubleheader. It is the first time in her career that Duval has been named Patriot League Player of the Week.

Patriot League Pitcher of the Week
Jessi Muckelroy, Army Sr., P, Houston, Texas
Muckelroy earned her second consecutive Patriot League Pitcher of the Week award after tossing a complete-game shutout against Siena on Thursday. Muckelroy did not allow a walk in seven innings as she pitched her seventh career shutout. Muckelroy is now 2-1 with a 0.34 ERA in 20.2 innings this season.

Patriot League Rookie of the Week
Liz Lucas, Lehigh Fr., C, Westminster, Colo.
Lucas recorded a two-RBI single to help Lehigh notch a 4-3 win over 2009 NCAA Tournament qualifier Sacred Heart on Monday. For the week, Lucas batted .364. She tallied multiple hits against Bryant, going 2-for-3 against the Bulldogs. It is the first time that Lucas has been named Patriot League Rookie of the Week.

Honorable Mention Performances Last Week

Stephanie Hartquist, Colgate
So., OF, Homer, N.Y.
Batted. 643 with six RBI as Colgate went 3-1 last week. Had multiple hits in all four outings, including a 3-for-3 effort against Wagner.

Michelle Hollebeke, Colgate
So., P, North Reading, Mass.
Went 2-1 in three outings last week. Went the distance in both of her starts, going 2-0 in both games. Allowed just three earned runs while striking out seven batters.

Alex Cueva, Lehigh
Jr., 3B, Saugus, Calif.
Was 5-for-9 at the plate in Lehigh’s four games last week. Had two extra-base hits, including a three-run inside-the-park home run. Drove in five of Lehigh’s 13 runs during the week.

Bri Gaumer, Lehigh
Jr., P, Brea, Calif.
Won botth of her starts last week, allowing just two earned runs. Her two victories last week matched her win total from her previous two seasons at Lehigh.

Patriot League Notebook

Wet Weather Blues
Half of the Patriot League’s six teams had their schedules affected by weather last week. A total of 11 games were washed out. Lehigh and Bucknell each had four games cancelled on account of rainy conditions. A total of 16 games featuring Patriot League teams have been cancelled or postponed due to rain this season.

Half and Half
Three of the Patriot League’s six teams played last week, while the other three were off. Lafayette and Bucknell did not play due to weather, while Holy Cross had a scheduled eight-day break after playing nine games in five days in Florida. Colgate went 3-1 in its four contests at the Rebel Spring Games. Lehigh also went 3-1 at the same event. Army won four straight games, including a doubleheader sweep of Siena.

Red Hot Raiders
Colgate is off to a fast start, winning eight of its first 10 games. The Raiders went 3-1 during the most recent week of action. Colgate won its first three contests at the Rebel Spring Games before dropping a 5-4 decision to Rider. Sophomore outfielder Stephanie Hartquist led Colgate at the plate during the Raiders’ first two games in Florida, going 9-for-14 in four contests. Michelle Hollebeke picked up two of Colgate’s three pitching wins during the week.

Super Streak
Army has recorded the longest winning streak of the season thus far. After dropping their first three games of the season, the Black Knights rattled off four straight victories. The streak came to a close on Monday with a 10-1 loss to Tennessee-Martin.

The Great Giambrino
Lafayette senior Christina Giambrone was unable to add to her home run total this week due to the Leopards’ games being rained out. When weather permits, Giambrone has been one of the premier home run hitters in Patriot League history. She has 29 career home runs, leaving her just one short of becoming the fourth player in League history to notch 30 career blasts.

2010 Patriot League Softball Tournament
The 2010 Patriot League Softball Championship will be held at the school with the top seed, as determined by regular-season standings, with the top four teams qualifying for the double-elimination tournament. Two games will be played on Thursday, May 13 and three on Friday, May 14. The champion will be determined on Saturday, May 15. The Patriot League champion will earn the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Team Notebooks

Army The Black Knights opened the season with three straight losses before running off four straight victories. Army’s winning streak came to a close with a 10-1 loss to Tennessee-Martin on Monday. Right-handed batters are hitting just .238 against Army pitchers, while left-handers are batting ..381. Army will continue play at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.

Bucknell The Bison did not play last week as a result of adverse weather conditions. Bucknell enters the week with a 2-2 record. The Bison possess a Patriot League-best .964 fielding percentage. Bucknell has committed a League-low four errors. The Bison will make the long trip to Los Angeles to compete in this week’s Loyola Marymount Showcase.

Colgate The Raiders own the best record among Patriot League teams, entering the week with an 8-2 non-League record. Colgate went 3-1 during its first four contests of the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. Colgate is hitting a League-best .336 through its first 10 games. Leading the way is sophomore Jennifer Ortega, who is hitting .548 with three home runs and 14 RBI. The Raiders will remain in Florida for its final eight contests in the Rebel Spring Games.

Holy Cross The Crusaders had the week off after going 4-5 at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. After winning its first game of the event, Holy Cross dropped five straight, then won its final three contests. Freshman Sam Fregenti leads the team offensively, batting .381 in eight games. The Crusaders’ pitching staff leads the Patriot League with 35 strikeouts. Leading the way is Caitlin Belanger, who has 15 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched. Holy Cross will resume play on Tuesday at Bryant.

Lafayette The Leopards did not compete last week due to rainy weather in the region. Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Christina Giambrone batted .500 with two home runs and six RBI during Lafayette’s first weekend of action. Giambrone is now one home run away from becoming the fourth player in Patriot League history to notch 30 career home runs. Lafayette will next compete in the Rebel Spring Games. The Leopards will play eight games in four days starting in Kissimmee, Fla.

Lehigh The Mountain Hawks’ final four contests of the Rebel Spring Games were cancelled due to rainy weather conditions. Lehigh is 6-4 through its first 10 games, including a 3-1 mark in its final four games in Florida. The Mountain Hawks’ pitchers are tied with Holy Cross for the League-lead with 35 strikeouts. Of Lehigh’s strikeout victims, 15 have been caught looking. Lehigh has allowed just 11 walks in 10 games. The Mountain Hawks will next compete at the UMBC Spring Classic in Baltimore, Md.