May 8, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University senior designated player Mary Beth Puccio (Brightwaters, N.Y./Bay Shore) was named First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District for softball for the second straight year in a voting among the district's Sports Information Directors it was announced today. She will now be placed on the national ballot for Academic All-American® consideration, an award she won last year by being named First Team Academic All-American®.

Puccio, a senior designated player who was an Honorable Mention All-Atlantic 10 selection this spring for the second consecutive year as well as being named the 2009 Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year, is currently hitting .299 (55-184), fourth best on the squad. She has recorded eleven doubles, five home runs and 36 RBI in 58 games this year. Puccio, who set career-highs in every offensive category last year, is tied for the second on the team in doubles and is third in home runs and RBI. She has 16 multiple-hit games this year, including two three-hit games and one four-hit game, along with seven multiple-RBI games, including two four-RBI contests.

In the Atlantic 10 rankings, Puccio is sixth in RBI, tied for six in doubles, seventh in hits and total bases, tenth in runs scored (51) and tied for 19th in hitting.

In Atlantic 10 action, this spring, Puccio hit .303 (20-66) with two doubles, one home run and 15 RBI.

Besides garnering Honorable Mention All-Atlantic 10 honors last spring, Puccio was also named a First Team ECAC All-Star and to the 2008 Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team.

The Rams (36-20, 13-7 Atlantic 10), who are hosting the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship this week, will continue play at the championship on Friday with a loser's bracket game against Saint Joseph's at 11:00 a.m. The Rams opened the tournament with a 5-3 win over Saint Joseph's on Wednesday, before falling to top-seeded Massachusetts, 5-1, in the first game on Thursday.