Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Fry, Gates Earn Second Set of Patriot League Weekly Softball Honors
4/19/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell softball claimed a pair of Patriot League honors as Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) was named the Player of the Week and Bridget Gates (Milford, Conn./Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall) earned Rookie of the Week accolades on Monday. The duo helped the Bison go 5-1 and move into second place in the Patriot League standings last week.
In six games last week, Fry hit .471 at the plate, but it was not until the weekend's league series against Colgate that the junior really got hot. In the two doubleheaders with the Raiders, Fry hit .538 with five-extra base hits, seven runs and seven RBI. She capped of the series with a 3-for-3 offensive performance that included a double, two triples, an intentional walk and a hit-by-pitch. Her weekend resume also included her second home run of the season, a three-run shot in Saturday's 13-3 (5 inn.) win.
Fry, who is hitting .400 on the season, also moved onto some top-10 program lists in the last week. The center fielder is fifth in career (87) and single-season (36) runs scored. She is also currently tied for fourth in single-season walks with 24.
Gates made three appearances as a starter last week and finished the stretch with a 3-0 pitching record and a 1.27 ERA. The freshman did not allow an earned run in her first two starts, leading Bucknell to an 11-1 (6 inn.) win at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Thursday and a 3-2 (8 inn.) victory against Colgate on Saturday. Gates also struck out a career-best nine batters and did not allow a walk in that first meeting with the Raiders. She finished the weekend with her third complete game, which ended in a 9-5 (8 inn.) win for the Bison.
Gates' record on the season is now a team-leading 10-3. With her second victory over Colgate, Gates became the first Bison pitcher to record 10 wins in her freshman campaign since Heidi Dawson and Allison Love in 1992. Gates also leads the team in ERA (2.41), innings pitched (90.0), shutouts (2) and strikeouts (44) this year.
It is the second Player of the Week honor for Fry, who also earned the award on March 22. She is the first in the league to repeat as the top player this season. Gates also has a previous Rookie of the Week selection from March 8.
Bucknell has won 10 of its last 12 games, bringing its record to 20-12 overall and 8-4 in the Patriot League. The team will try to continue its success and go for its 500th victory in program history in a doubleheader against La Salle on Wednesday, April 21. The Bison will host the Explorers at 3 p.m. at the Bucknell Softball Field.
