Jenny Bender (2003)
College Career Highlights (2000–2003)
- .394 career batting average
- 248 hits, 3rd all-time
- 145 career RBI
2000 – First Year
- First-Team All-Patriot League – Designated Player
2001 – Sophomore Year
- First-Team All-Patriot League – Designated Player
- NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) First-Team All-Region
- ECAC 2nd Team All-Star – Designated Player
- Patriot League Tournament MVP
2002 – Junior Year
- First-Team All-Patriot League – Designated Player
- 2nd-Team All-Patriot League – Pitcher
- 71 hits; 4th all-time hits in a season
- ECAC Honorable Mention – Outfielder
2003 – Senior Year
- First-Team All-Patriot League – Designated Player
- 2nd-Team All-Patriot League – Pitcher
- NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) First-Team All-Region
- ECAC 1st Team All-Star – Designated Player
- CoSIDA Academic All-American – 3rd Team
- Verizon Academic All-American – 3rd Team
Jenny Bender is a distinguished alumna of Lehigh University and one of the most accomplished student-athletes in the history of the Mountain Hawks softball program. A 2003 graduate with a degree in Art, Bender made a lasting impact as a dominant left-handed pitcher and designated player during her collegiate career in the early 2000s.
Over the course of her time at Lehigh, Bender earned All-Patriot League honors five times—an extraordinary reflection of her sustained excellence and versatility on the field. She was instrumental in the program’s competitive success, contributing significantly to multiple Patriot League regular-season and tournament championships. In 2001, she was named Patriot League Tournament Most Valuable Player, a recognition of her pivotal role in leading the team to postseason victory.
As a senior, Bender recorded a 13–4 pitching record with 54 strikeouts while also leading the team in runs batted in, showcasing her rare dual-threat ability both in the circle and at the plate. Her senior season capped a career defined by resilience, consistency, and competitive excellence.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Bender excelled in the classroom. She was named a Verizon Academic All-American in 2003, becoming one of the few Lehigh softball players to earn this prestigious national honor for academic and athletic distinction.
Following graduation, Bender carried forward her love for the game into her professional life, becoming an art educator and high school softball coach. In both roles, she continues to inspire young athletes, instilling in them the same passion, discipline, and drive that defined her time at Lehigh. She credits her father, Dave Bender—a longtime coach who later joined the Lehigh softball coaching staff—with sparking her competitive spirit and shaping her commitment to excellence.
Jenny Bender’s legacy is one of leadership, achievement, and meaningful influence. She helped shape the trajectory of Lehigh softball and remains a transformational figure in the program’s history.
Bender in the Media
