Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Ben Yoder Named a 2007 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American
6/6/2007 8:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 6, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After being tabbed as the Patriot League Baseball Rookie of the Year last month, Bucknell second baseman Ben Yoder (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley) picked up another postseason accolade on Wednesday as the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper named him to the 2007 Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American team.
Yoder becomes the first Bison to earn the honor since Phil Futrick '06 and Kyle Walter '06 were named Freshmen All-Americans in 2003 and is the sixth member of the Orange and Blue to receive the award since Bucknell joined the Patriot League in 1991. He is one of three individuals to represent the league on the 2007 squad as Lafayette starting pitcher Jeremy Atkins and Navy third baseman Drew Lydon were also recognized.
Yoder made his first collegiate start at Virginia in Bucknell's third contest of the year and went on to make 31 appearances in the starting lineup. He saw action in 37 of the team's 40 games on the season and finished second on the team with a .317 batting average, while tying for second with 21 runs scored. Yoder recorded 38 hits, five doubles, two triples and 12 RBI in his freshman campaign, while hitting at a .311 clip in Patriot League play.
Yoder registered 12 multiple-hit games for the Orange and Blue, which matched the second-highest total on the squad in 2007. His longest hitting streak of the season spanned eight contests and he ended the year with an active six-game hitting streak.
A two-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Yoder earned the honor on back-to-back Tuesdays. On Mar. 27, he received the accolade after leading the squad in hitting against Mount St. Mary's as he went 5-for-9 in Bucknell's doubleheader split, for a .556 batting average. In the Bison's 7-0 victory, Yoder hit 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Then in game two, a 4-3 setback for the Bison, he went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
The following week on Apr. 3, Yoder was recognized by the league again after hitting safely in every contest in a 4-1 week for the Orange and Blue. On the week, Yoder went 10-for-21 for a .476 average, posted a .619 slugging percentage and totaled seven runs scored, three doubles and three RBI.
Yoder is one of nine position players who saw significant starting time this spring that are expected to return for 2008. The Bison finished the 2007 campaign with a record of 16-24, 8-12 in the Patriot League.
