Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Softball Rookie Zoie Smith Named Patriot League Player of the Week
3/9/2021 11:30:00 AM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – After leading Bucknell softball in hits and batting .625 during a 2-0 weekend for the team, first-year Bison Zoie Smith has been named the Patriot League's Softball Player of the Week. She's the first from Bucknell to bring home the honor since March of 2019.
In just her first weekend of collegiate softball, Smith went 5-for-8 with two singles, two doubles and a home run for a 1.250 slugging percentage. She also finished with two RBIs and scored four runs herself. The rookie led an all-around strong performance at the plate for Bucknell, which batted .413 as a team in the two victories over North Carolina A&T.
After grounding out in her first collegiate at-bat, Smith homered the next time up then doubled twice to go 3-for-4 and help the Bison collect an 8-3 win over the Aggies. Smith went 2-for-4 in the second game of the day, including an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning that gave Bucknell a 6-1 lead. The Pickerington, Ohio native scored two batters later, and Bucknell went on to win 11-7.
Smith made starts at both right field and catcher in the two games. She finished second on the roster in putouts and caught one stealing. Smith was a two-time All-State selection at Pickerington High School Central before arriving at Bucknell.
Bucknell's Kelly Toomey received an honorable mention for Pitcher of the Week. The junior transfer collected her first win in the circle for Bucknell, going four innings and striking out six.
Bucknell travels south again this weekend for three games against the Longwood Lancers. The series begins with a doubleheader in Farmville, Va. on Saturday, March 13.
