Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Softball's Nielsen Selected as Patriot League Rookie, Bison Athlete of the Week
4/29/2013 8:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2013
LEWISBURG, Pa. - For the second time this season, Bucknell softball's Dana Nielsen (Pequannock, N.J./Pequannock) earned Patriot League honors. On Monday, the freshman was tabbed as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week after going 2-0 with a save and a 0.53 ERA as she helped the Bison clinch a berth in the conference postseason tournament. Her Bison Athlete of the Week citation was the first of her career.
Nielsen recorded her second save of the season in a 4-3 win over Holy Cross on Sunday. She pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless one-hit softball in the relief outing. The victory secured Bucknell's No. 3 seed in the Patriot League Tournament, which runs May 9-11 in Bethlehem, Pa.
Sunday's game one was Nielsen's second consecutive appearance without allowing an earned run. She threw a complete-game shutout in Saturday's nightcap as well. It was her third shutout of the season, which is tied for 10th all-time at Bucknell. In that game against the Crusaders, Nielsen also allowed just one hit. She also struck out five to get her second win of the week and lead the Bison to a 1-0 victory.
Before taking on the Patriot League opponent, Bucknell faced non-conference foe Saint Francis (Pa.). Nielsen was also the winning pitcher in that contest, which went to the Bison 3-2. She gave up one earned run, the only one in her last four appearances, on four hits against the Red Flash.
In her three games last week, Nielsen totaled 12 strikeouts and four walks. Opponents managed just six hits against her. Nielsen's season numbers now include an 8-12 record with eight complete games and three shutouts. Her 99 strikeouts and .274 opponent batting average both rank second on the team and she has an earned run average of 3.56.
The Rookie of the Week citation is the second award of the season for Nielsen. She was also selected as the Patriot League Pitcher of the Week on April 15. She is the first Bison to earn two honors in the same season since Bridget Gates and Alex MacLean in 2010.
Bucknell, which is currently enjoying its longest winning streak of the season at six games and has improved its records to 20-28 overall and 11-9 in the conference, will take on Army in the first game of the Patriot League Tournament. Joining them in the field is top-seeded Lehigh and No. 4 Colgate.
