MIDDLETOWN, Pa- Penn State Harrisburg juniors Kara Boyd (Alexandria, PA/Juniata Valley) and Kristyan Gates (Hanover, PA/Hanover) have been named the North Eastern Athletic Conference's (NEAC) Women's Softball Student-Athletes of the Week for the time period ending Sunday, Apr. 8.  Thanks to her outstanding performance at the plate, Boyd picked up the honor for a second consecutive week and the third time overall this spring.  Gates was strong inside the circle on her way to earning the conference's pitching accolade.

During the Lions' 4-0 week, Boyd went an incredible 11-14 at the plate and racked up a .786 batting average.  She notched six extra base hits including four doubles and two triples, scored 11 total runs, recorded two RBIs and stole four bases.  The center fielder went 5-9 in the box in the team's doubleheader sweep over St. Elizabeth on Tuesday, Apr. 3 and followed it up by going a perfect 6-6 in two victories over Gallaudet three days later.  For the week, Boyd notched a .812 on base percentage and a slugging percentage of 1.357.

After making a handful of relief appearances this spring, Gates picked up her first victory of the season against Gallaudet on Friday, Apr. 6.  The junior transfer pitched a complete five-inning game in the Lions' besting of the Bison, giving up just one hit, one walk and one run (unearned) to go along with her impressive ten strikeouts.  She was strong in a relief appearance against St. Elizabeth as well.  The righty went three strong, scoreless innings and gave up just two hits in addition to her six punch outs.  Gates' stellar week improved her team-leading ERA to a stout 0.61 on the year.