University Park, Pa. — Junior standout pitcher Lisa Akamine (Escondido, Calif.) was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team for the first time on Thursday. Akamine is now eligible for Academic All-America honors.
For the fifth straight year and 11th time in head coach Robin Petrini's 15 years at the helm of Penn State's softball program, a Nittany Lion garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District Honors. Akamine headlined the lone team in District II that featured members from Lehigh, Bucknell, Robert Morris, Temple, Monmouth and Saint Francis (Pa.).
Akamine is a stalwart in the circle and at the plate as the junior hurler has thrown 132.1 innings with a 10-9 record and a 1.96 overall earned run average. Her career season sees her with 11 complete games, three shutouts and two more combined shutouts this season, while holding opposing batters to just .186 this season.
In the batter's box, the two-time All-Big Ten honoree has hit .248 in 35 games with 10 RBI and holds the distinction for hitting the first home run at brand new Nittany Lion Softball Park. The homer was an inside-the-park shot during the inaugural win over Wisconsin (Mar. 26). An excellent fielder, Akamine has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage this year and has helped lead Penn State to a 24-21-1 record heading into this weekend's games at Iowa.
Last season, Penn State's Ashley Griffith earned Academic All-District II First Team accolades en route to All-America Third Team honors, Penn State's eighth CoSIDA Academic All-American. Along with Griffith, Danee Collett (Rogersville, Tenn.) landed on the All-District II Second Team. Akamine is the 22nd Academic All-District student-athlete from Penn State and 13th to make the first team.
Penn State heads to Iowa for another crucial series beginning Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. The Nittany Lions are still in the hunt for a spot in the NCAA Tournament with an RPI of 44. Iowa sits at 26-23 and concludes its regular season this weekend.