Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Finkel Named Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week After Leading Bison Softball to Patriot League Title
5/17/2010 8:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2010
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LEWISBURG, Pa. – Sherry Finkel (Morgantown, W. Va./University) was named the Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week after leading Bucknell softball to a Patriot League Championship on Saturday and its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Finkel hit .588 during the league tournament, including a 5-for-5 performance with the game-winning home run to send the Bison to a deciding game seven against Colgate, and was named to the Patriot League All-Tournament Team.
Bucknell found itself in a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning against the Raiders on Saturday. A loss would have given Colgate the league title, while a win guaranteed a seventh deciding contest. Finkel's home run to left center field in the top of the ninth gave Bucknell another life and capped off a perfect hitting performance that also included a double, two singles and two RBI.
Finkel continued in the true championship game by hitting 2-for-4 with another double and an RBI against Colgate. Her offensive success propelled the Bison to a 6-4 win over the Raiders to earn the second Patriot League Championship in program history.
Finkel's success against Colgate began a day earlier. After Bucknell defeated Lehigh 4-3 in the weekend's opener, the Bison fell to the Raiders 5-4 in eight innings on Friday. The senior outfielder hit 3-for-4 with an RBI in that contest.
In five games, Finkel went 10-for-17 at the plate with two doubles and a home run. She also recorded four RBI and posted a slugging percentage of .882.
Joining her on the All-Tournament Team were Jane Messersmith (Costa Mesa, Calif./Newport Harbor), who hit .474 with a team-leading five RBI and four runs scored, and Lauren Fry (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), who went .438 at the plate. Alex MacLean (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) was named the Tournament MVP, going 4-1 with a 1.17 ERA in the pitchers' circle.
With the tournament title in hand, Bucknell now looks toward the NCAA Regionals. The Bison will face No. 11 California at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 21 in Columbus, Ohio. They are guaranteed a second game in the double-elimination format on Saturday, May 22, and regional play continues through May 23. Also competing for a chance to advance to the Super Regional are host Ohio State and Kentucky. Games not involving Ohio State will have free live streaming video available at OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Should the Bison take on the Buckeyes, that contest can be seen live on BigTenNetwork.com for a small fee or on tape delay on the Big Ten Network.
