Bucknell University Athletics
Kelley Tiesi Named Assistant Softball Coach at Bucknell
9/25/2006 8:00:00 AM | Softball
Sept. 25, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Four-time All-American Kelley Tiesi has been named Bucknell's new assistant softball coach, Bison third-year head coach Heather Rakosik announced Monday. Tiesi graduated from Shippensburg University last spring and was a four-year member of the Raiders' softball team that advanced to four straight Mid-Atlantic Region championship games.
"I am thrilled to have someone of Kelley's caliber join our program," exclaimed Rakosik. "Her success on and off the field will only impact our staff and program in a positive way. She arrives with championship experience, which will help our players as we strive to return to the Patriot League Tournament."
One of the most decorated players in Division II softball, Tiesi, a right-handed pitcher, finished her stellar career among the career NCAA leaders in a number of statistical categories. One of just eight players in Division II history to tally 1,000 career strikeouts, Tiesi copped honors as the Division II Player of the Year as a sophomore and earned plaudits as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Player of the Year in 2004 and 2006.
The PSAC Rookie of the Year in 2003, Tiesi wrapped up her four-year career ranked in the top 10 in Division II history in career strikeouts (1,095), strikeout ratio (9.9), earned run average (0.62) and saves (11).
With 99 career victories, Tiesi ranks 14th in Division II annals, while her winning percentage of .839 stands 17th. She piled up 51 career shutouts to place her 11th and her 136 games pitched is 26th.
Tiesi, who completed 91 of her 110 games started over the course of her career, racked up nearly 800 innings pitched. She appeared in the circle in 38 games last year to tie her own school record. Meanwhile, her 242.1 innings pitched set a new school standard as did her 369 strikeouts.
Following her graduation from Shippensburg with a bachelor's degree in finance, Tiesi signed to play with Fabi Macerata, an Italian professional softball team. Tiesi was a position player on the squad that won the European Cup.
While a student-athlete at Shippensburg, Tiesi was a regular instructor at the Raiders' softball camps.
At Bucknell, Tiesi will be responsible for working with the Bison pitching staff, which returns all five members from 2006 when it featured four freshmen and a sophomore. She will also head Bucknell's strong recruiting program, which has featured players representing seven different states over the last two classes, as the recruiting coordinator.
Bucknell will open its 2007 campaign the weekend of Feb. 17-18 at the UNC Charlotte Green & White Tournament. It equals last year for the earliest opening date in program history.
