BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Army West Point claimed two of the three Patriot League softball weekly awards when the League office announced the honors on Monday, while Lehigh earned Rookie of the Week recognition.
Army West Point senior infielder Ashton White was named Patriot League Player of the Week after batting .462 with a .500 on-base percentage and .692 slugging percentage, totaling a team-best six hits and five RBIs over four games.
Army West Point senior pitcher Amanda Eaglin earned Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors after posting a 1.66 ERA over 12.2 innings with 18 strikeouts across three appearances, allowing just three earned runs.
Lehigh first-year catcher/infielder Kyra Neiswender was selected as Patriot League Rookie of the Week after hitting .500 (6-for-12) with a team-leading seven RBIs over four games at the Red and Black Classic.
Colgate sophomore catcher Lily Haluska, Lehigh junior infielder Peyton Sward, Colgate first-year infielder Marina Taveras and Boston University freshman outfielder Irys Kline earned honorable mention recognition.
The Patriot League softball players of the week are selected in a vote by each school’s head softball coach, who are not eligible to vote for their student-athletes.
Softball Player of the Week
Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF, Dothan, Ala./Wicksburg
*White batted .462 with a .500 on-base percentage and .692 slugging percentage, totaling a team-best six hits and five RBIs over four games.
*The senior recorded her second home run of the season against Iowa on February 13 and added her first stolen base of the year.
*White went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk against Iowa on Saturday.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Amanda Eaglin, Army West Point, Sr., P, Peru, Ind./Peru
*Eaglin posted a 1.66 ERA over 12.2 innings with 18 strikeouts across three appearances, allowing just three earned runs.
*The senior threw 6.0 innings against Western Kentucky without allowing an earned run, striking out eight.
*Eaglin added six strikeouts in 2.1 innings against Iowa and tossed 4.1 scoreless innings in relief against Mercer.
Softball Rookie of the Week
Kyra Neiswender, Lehigh, Fy., C/INF, Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown Area
*Neiswender hit .500 (6-for-12) with a team-leading seven RBIs over four games at the Red and Black Classic.
*The first-year recorded three hits and four RBIs, including a game-tying two-run single, in an 11–10 win over Gardner-Webb.
*Neiswender added two hits and an RBI against Queens and leads Lehigh with 11 RBIs through nine games.
Honorable Mentions
Lily Haluska, Colgate, So., C, Ballston Lake, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Haluska batted .429 with two home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored over five games at Tarleton State. She homered twice with four RBIs in a 2-for-3 performance against the Texans and recorded at least one hit in every contest.
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF, Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park
Sward hit .417 with five runs scored and six RBIs in four games, highlighted by a 3-for-3 performance with a double, triple, four RBIs and three runs scored in an 11–10 win over Gardner-Webb. She went 5-for-6 across two victories on Friday.
Marina Taveras, Colgate, Fy., INF, Fort Worth, Tex./Aledo
Taveras slashed .313 with a double, RBI and three runs scored, posting hits in three of five games. She delivered a double and drove in the game-winning run in a 5–4 victory over Stephen F. Austin.
Irys Kline, Boston University, Fr., OF, Camp Hill, Pa./East Pennsboro Area
Kline batted .417 with a hit in all four games against No. 16 South Carolina and Louisville, collecting two RBIs and a double.
Player of the Week
2.9 – Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
2.16 – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
Pitcher of the Week
2.9 – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
2.16 – Amanda Eaglin, Army West Point, Sr., P
Rookie of the Week
2.9 – Marina Taveras, Colgate, Fy., INF
2.16 – Kyra Neiswender, Lehigh, Ft., C/INF
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.