Bucknell University Athletics
Sarah Zimmerman Lands Patriot League Softball Player of the Week
2/23/2026 3:00:00 PM | Softball
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Pitcher/outfielder Sarah Zimmerman countered the chilly February weather by swinging a hot bat at last weekend's UNCG Invitational to earn Patriot League Softball Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the conference office. Zimmerman's selection marks the third straight season a Bison player has earned the coveted honor.
"Sarah's performance didn't surprise anyone in our dugout - it confirmed what we've always known," said Bucknell head coach Angela Stackhouse. "She's a natural leader who does things the right way every single day when no one is watching. The preparation, the consistency, the way she carries herself - this moment was built long before today. We've always known she was capable of a performance like this, because she has been putting in championship-level work from the start."
Zimmerman's bat dominated the weekend. The dual-threat went 6-for-9 (.667) with an OBP of .700 and a sizzling slugging percentage of 1.444. She smashed four extra base hits - two doubles, one triple, and one home run. The doubles and home run were her career first for the categories. She drove in six RBIs after entering the weekend with a career total of four.Â
She started the weekend, batting 2-for-2 with a triple against UNC Greensboro on Friday, but the slugger saved her finest work for Saturday's doubleheader. Versus 8-4 Kent State, Zimmerman batted 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Against Canisius, she went 1-for-3, but her sole hit was the biggest of the game - a three-run moon shot to put Bucknell up 10-8. She added another RBI via a fielder's choice.Â
Zimmerman has enjoyed a renaissance start after a 2025 campaign where she only received four at-bats. The junior currently holds a .538 batting average (best on the team and second in the conference) and her six RBIs are tied with Brooke Popella for the team lead.Â
Bucknell heads to Virginia's Party at Palmer Invitational next weekend to face the host Cavaliers, Michigan, and Villanova.Â
"Sarah's performance didn't surprise anyone in our dugout - it confirmed what we've always known," said Bucknell head coach Angela Stackhouse. "She's a natural leader who does things the right way every single day when no one is watching. The preparation, the consistency, the way she carries herself - this moment was built long before today. We've always known she was capable of a performance like this, because she has been putting in championship-level work from the start."
Zimmerman's bat dominated the weekend. The dual-threat went 6-for-9 (.667) with an OBP of .700 and a sizzling slugging percentage of 1.444. She smashed four extra base hits - two doubles, one triple, and one home run. The doubles and home run were her career first for the categories. She drove in six RBIs after entering the weekend with a career total of four.Â
She started the weekend, batting 2-for-2 with a triple against UNC Greensboro on Friday, but the slugger saved her finest work for Saturday's doubleheader. Versus 8-4 Kent State, Zimmerman batted 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Against Canisius, she went 1-for-3, but her sole hit was the biggest of the game - a three-run moon shot to put Bucknell up 10-8. She added another RBI via a fielder's choice.Â
Zimmerman has enjoyed a renaissance start after a 2025 campaign where she only received four at-bats. The junior currently holds a .538 batting average (best on the team and second in the conference) and her six RBIs are tied with Brooke Popella for the team lead.Â
Bucknell heads to Virginia's Party at Palmer Invitational next weekend to face the host Cavaliers, Michigan, and Villanova.Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
LHP/OF
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