UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two Nittany Lion softball student-athletes were honored by CollegeSportsMadness.com Jan. 4 on its preseason All-Big Ten teams. Senior pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) and junior outfielder Cassidy Bell (Bakersfield, Calif.) were placed on the second team.
Akamine, who returns to Penn State after a strong 2011 season, was one of six pitchers selected by the online publication. Akamine is a three-time All-Big Ten selection having been tabbed as a second-team designated player honoree in 2011. Akamine posted a 1.89 ERA last year in 151.2 innings of work, striking out 135, throwing three solo shutouts and combining on two others. The senior right-hander is also a force at the plate, belting 35 hits, four doubles, a homer and 15 RBI last year.
Bell captured here first All-Big Ten honors in 2011, proving to be a formidable power hitter in her sophomore campaign. The lefty led the team in runs (31), hits (51), doubles (15), triples (3), homers (7), total bases (93), slugging percentage (93) and stolen bases (8), while being named the squad’s defensive player of the year by her teammates.
Bell is expected to lead the Nittany Lions again offensively with a team comprised of eight returning starters that reached the NCAA Regional Final a year ago. Akamine is the leading returning hurler for the Nittany Lions as they attempt to reach the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years for the first time since 2006-07. Last year, PSU finished fourth in the Big Ten with an 11-8-1 record and a 31-24-1 overall mark. The Nittany Lions open the 2012 season on Friday, Feb. 10 at Louisiana State.
