BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh, Boston University and Bucknell each claimed a Patriot League softball weekly award when the League office announced the honors on Monday.
Lehigh junior infielder Peyton Sward was named Patriot League Player of the Week after batting .643 (9-for-14) with a 1.563 OPS across four games against Binghamton and Cornell.
Boston University senior pitcher Kasey Ricard earned Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors after going 3–0 with a 0.00 ERA, striking out 12 batters over 18.1 innings, while setting a Patriot League record in career shutouts.
Bucknell freshman catcher Barbara Jo Coppola was selected as Patriot League Rookie of the Week after hitting .636 (7-for-11) at the Winthrop Invitational.
Army West Point sophomore outfielder Breanna Coonfare, Boston University junior outfielder Kylie Doherty and freshman infielder Madolyn Coupal, Army West Point junior pitcher Katelyn Flanders and Holy Cross senior pitcher Sophia Roncone 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.
Patriot League Softball Standings (as of 3.9.26)
|
PL Record |
PL Pct. |
Overall Record |
Overall Pct. |
| Lehigh |
0-0 |
.000 |
8-6 |
.571 |
| Boston University |
0-0 |
.000 |
12-10 |
.545 |
| Army West Point |
0-0 |
.000 |
8-11 |
.421 |
| Colgate |
0-0 |
.000 |
7-13 |
.350 |
| Holy Cross |
0-0 |
.000 |
4-8 |
.333 |
| Lafayette |
0-0 |
.000 |
5-13 |
.278 |
| Bucknell |
0-0 |
.000 |
1-17 |
.056 |
STATS | SCHEDULE
Patriot League Softball Player of the Week
Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF, Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park
*Sward batted .643 (9-for-14) with a 1.563 OPS across four games against Binghamton and Cornell, recording at least two hits in each contest.
*She scored seven runs and delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning in a win at Binghamton.
*Sward also stole home in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader sweep at Cornell.
Patriot League Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P, Littleton, Mass./Littleton
*Ricard went 3–0 with a 0.00 ERA, striking out 28 while allowing eight hits and four walks over 18.1 innings.
*She struck out 12 in a shutout win over Yale to set a Patriot League record with her 32nd career shutout.
*Ricard added seven strikeouts in relief against New Haven and nine more in another win over Yale.
Patriot League Softball Rookie of the Week
Barbara Jo Coppola, Bucknell, Fr., C, Harrison, N.Y./Harrison
*Coppola hit .636 (7-for-11) at the Winthrop Invitational with a double, four RBIs and two walks.
*She went 2-for-2 against Georgia State and totaled four RBIs on Sunday.
*Coppola’s performance came against three Southern teams with winning records.
Honorable Mentions
Breanna Coonfare, Army West Point, So., OF, Kansas City, Mo./Liberty North
Coonfare hit .375 with six hits, five RBIs, two doubles and two stolen bases, helping Army West Point to a 3–2 weekend. She went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI, double and stolen base in a win over Toledo.
Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF, Bolton, Mass./Nashoba Regional
Doherty batted .444 with a 1.222 slugging percentage, totaling seven RBIs, two home runs and a double in a 4–0 week. She homered in both wins over New Haven.
Katelyn Flanders, Army West Point, Jr., P, Jackson, Ga./Jackson
Flanders went 2–0 with a save and a 1.17 ERA across 12.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs. She threw a career-high 8.0 innings in a win over UNC Wilmington after earning a relief victory against UNC Greensboro.
Sophia Roncone, Holy Cross, Sr., P, Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills
Roncone tossed two complete games, striking out 12 while allowing just two hits against UMES and following with a shutout versus FDU.
Madolyn Coupal, Boston University, Fr., INF, Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Feehan
Coupal hit .462 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a .533 on-base percentage in a 4–0 week. She had a hit in all four games and was perfect in the field with eight assists and no errors.
Player of the Week
2.9 – Kylie Doherty, Boston University, Jr., OF
2.16 – Ashton White, Army West Point, Sr., INF
2.23 – Sarah Zimmerman, Bucknell, Jr., OF
3.2 – Caroline Hall, Lafayette, So., INF
3.9 – Peyton Sward, Lehigh, Jr., INF
Pitcher of the Week
2.9 – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
2.16 – Amanda Eaglin, Army West Point, Sr., P
2.23 – Breanna Izzo, Army West Point, Sr., P
3.2 – Haley Ganini, Boston University, Sr., P
3.9 – Kasey Ricard, Boston University, Sr., P
Rookie of the Week
2.9 – Marina Taveras, Colgate, Fy., INF
2.16 – Kyra Neiswender, Lehigh, Ft., C/INF
2.23 – Irys Kline, Boston University, Fr., OF
3.2 – Marina Taveras, Colgate, Fy., INF
3.9 – Barbara Jo Coppola, Bucknell, Fr., C
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.