March 24, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell freshman softball player Alison Ford (Suison, Calif./Fairfield) became the first Bison in more than a year to be named Patriot League Player of the Week when she copped the award on Monday. The infielder hit .800 during a doubleheader sweep of Coppin State on Saturday and also drove in a team-high six runs.

Ford opened the doubleheader against the Eagles with the best game of her young career. She posted three hits in four at bats, drove in four runs and scored two. She had totaled just six hits in her first 14 career games.

In the nightcap, Ford was 1-for-1 with two runs batted in and one more run scored.

Ford has now recorded hits in six of her last nine games played and saw her season average go from .162 to .238 with her performance on Saturday. Ford's eight runs batted in this season lead the team, while her three extra-base hits rank her among the team leaders.

Ford, who plays the corner infield positions, helped Bucknell to a 2-0 record last week. The Bison defeated Coppin State 20-0 and 17-0 in Saturday's doubleheader.

The Suison, Calif., native became the first Bucknell player since Lauren Litts last February to be named the Patriot League Player of the Week.

Bucknell has a busy week ahead as it hosts Penn State on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and then travels to UMBC for a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.