May 9, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior co-captain Erin Curatola (River Edge, N.J./River Dell) was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II Softball First Team, announced this week by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). It is the second consecutive year Curatola has been honored as she moves to the national ballot as a finalist for Academic All-America honors.

This marks the fifth consecutive year the Bison softball program has had a student-athlete earn all-district plaudits. To be eligible for a nomination, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.20 grade-point average and be a starter or key reserve on his or her team.

The only Bucknell player to play in all 50 game this season, Curatola has now appeared in a Bucknell-record 180 career contests, including 112 in a row. A Second Team All-Patriot League selection, Curatola is hitting .298 with nine doubles, two home runs and 32 runs batted in. The 32 RBIs are sixth on the Bison single-season list, while the 70 career runs she has driven in place her 10th on that list.

Hitting fifth in the lineup, Curatola was 1-for-4 in Bucknell's first-round Patriot League Tournament victory over Lafayette on Thursday. The hit was the 152nd of her career, a figure that ranks seventh in program history. She also extended her hitting streak to five games.

A designated player this year after serving as a catcher much of her first three campaigns, Curatola is a two-time Dean's List selection and posted a 4.0 grade-point average in the fall 2007 semester. A two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member, Curatola has an overall GPA of 3.37 and is expected to graduate later this month with a degree in mathematics.

Curatola and her Bison teammates, who are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and are 23-27 overall this season, will continue play at the Patriot League Tournament on Friday. Bucknell, seeded third in the four-team field, is slated to play top-seeded Lehigh at 11 a.m. at the Mountain Hawks' Kaufman Field. The contest will be broadcast on SportsJuice.com, which can be accessed through BucknellBison.com. The winner of the game will advance on to Saturday's championship game, while the loser will play either Lafayette or Army at 4 p.m. Friday with the winner of that advancing to play in Saturday's championship.

2008 Academic All-District II Softball Team
Pitcher, Lisa Sweeney (Lehigh)
Pitcher, Nicole Ward (Villanova)
Pitcher, Meredith Nelles (Maryland)
Catcher, Rachel Folden (Marshall)
Infield, Jessica Chrabaszcz (Delaware State)
Infield, Dana Shepard (UMBC)
Infield, Megan Conrad (Lehigh)
Infield, Susan Perich (Robert Morris)
Outfield, Kate Marvel (Lehigh)
Outfield, Brooke Panepinto (Robert Morris)
Outfield, Danielle Kinley (Penn State)
Designated Player, Erin Curatola (Bucknell)