Teams: Softball: Press Releases

Monday, April 30, 2007

SULLIVAN POWERS HER WAY TO NESCAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

MEDFORD -- Continuing what has been one of the best first-year seasons in the 23-year history of the Tufts University softball team, infielder Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT/Suffield Academy) has been named the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week. She led the Jumbos through a 5-1 week, hitting .526 (10/19) with four home runs, 10 runs batted in and eight runs scored in six starts.

Sullivan's power numbers continue to be extraordinary. In 19 at bats during the week, she accumulated 23 total bases for a 1.211 slugging percentage. She hit home runs in four separate games.

Primarily playing second base, but also logging some time at shortstop, she started the week with a 2 for 4 performance that included a home run and three RBIs against Brandeis on Monday. She homered again on Tuesday in a double-header against Endicott, finishing game two 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs. In a NESCAC East Division triple-header against Colby on Saturday, Sullivan homered in the first and third games as the Jumbos swept the Mules. In game one she went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and three runs, and in the third game she was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs. Sullivan also stole bases against Endicott and Colby during the week and struck out just once.

Sullivan is ranked among the leaders in NESCAC in all of the major offensive categories. Her nine home runs lead the league, as do her 1.17 runs batted in per game (42 RBIs in 36 games) and 89 total bases. She's 15 total bases ahead of the second-place hitter and is also among the top five for hits per game (1.42), runs scored per game (1.06) and doubles (9). Her .415 batting average (51/123) is sixth.

She is closing in on a number of Tufts records set by Danielle Lopez (Danvers, MA/Danvers) last season. In fact, with Lopez out for the year with a knee injury this spring, Sullivan's outstanding season has lessened the impact of that loss. Her 38 runs scored are five away from Lopez's mark of 43 and her 42 RBIs are six short of Lopez's 48. With 51 hits, Sullivan is four behind the new team record of 55 (and counting) set by teammate Samantha Kuhles (Somerville, NJ/Rutgers Prep).

Tufts won its third NESCAC East Division pennant and will host the conference tournament this weekend (May 4-6). The Jumbos, 25-11 overall, play Wesleyan in the first round on Friday at 2:30.

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