Bucknell University Athletics
Zahn Named Player of the Year, Skrenta Coach of the Year in Patriot League
5/6/2015 11:18:00 AM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Patriot League announced its yearly awards and all-conference teams for softball on Wednesday, and Bucknell received two of the major accolades. Senior Kristen Zahn was voted the league's Player of the Year, while Bonnie Skrenta was tabbed as the Coach of the Year.
Zahn was also a First Team selection on the All-Patriot League Team. Senior Cydnee Sanders, junior Dana Nielsen and sophomore Jacee Almond were all named to the Second Team. The group helped the Bison finish the season at 33-18 overall and 12-6 in the Patriot League, garnering a second seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Zahn is now a three-time All-Patriot League honoree, but this is her first Player of the Year honor and also her first appearance on the First Team. The award was fueled by her ability to hit with runners in scoring position, as she broke the school record with 52 RBIs so far this season. That is 10 more than anyone else in the conference. She also led the league in on-base percentage (.491), including a .396 batting average, 29 walks and nine hit-by-pitches.
Patriot League opponents saw the best from Zahn this season. She batted .500 in 54 at-bats against conference foes, including six doubles and one home run. She drove in 17 runs and had four of her eight stolen bases for the season. She added a team-best .667 slugging percentage against league teams.
Skrenta was voted the Patriot League Coach of the Year for the first time with Bucknell. She received three NFCA Central Region Coach of the Year awards while at Division III Depauw University. She guided the Bison to a program record 33 wins this season, had four players make all-conference teams and had three players named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Bucknell has upped its win total in each of its three seasons with Skrenta at the helm. The team has made the four-team Patriot League Tournament all three years, including a spot in the championship game last season. This season, the Bison also tied a program record with an 11-game winning streak. After starting 1-5 in conference play, they went 11-1 to finish 12-6.
Sanders landed a spot on the all-conference team for the third straight year, receiving Second Team honors after making the First Team as a sophomore and junior. The senior became the program's all-time hits leader, tallying her 207th hit during the team's sweep over Boston University last weekend. Sanders finished the regular season with a .378 batting average, eight doubles, 31 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. For her career, Sanders also ranks in the top 10 on Bucknell's career list in games played, batting average and runs scored.
Nielsen was solid as a freshman and sophomore for Bucknell, but had a breakout season as a junior this year. She went 13-4 during the regular season, posting a 2.95 ERA and 80 strikeouts to just 27 walks. She was 5-4 at one point during the season before going unbeaten in 10 straight appearances, including eight wins and two no-decisions. Nielsen went 7-1 against Patriot League teams. She ranks in the top 10 on Bucknell's career list in appearances, starts, wins, shutouts, saves, innings pitched and strikeouts.
Almond has made the All-Patriot League team in each of her first two seasons at Bucknell, making the Second Team as a freshman and sophomore. She hit .316 with 12 doubles, three home runs, 27 RBIs and 18 walks. Almond performed especially well during the Bison's great run at the end of the season, contributing a season-best for the team 13-game hitting streak.
