Ithaca College Athletics

2014: Bender was the ace in the circle for the Bombers in her senior season. She ranked first on the team with a 1.58 ERA, as she allowed just 36 earned runs in 159.2 innings of play. Bender made 26 starts for Ithaca and accumulated an impressive record of 18-7 with 20 complete games. Bender earned All-Empire 8 First Team honors, and was named the Empire 8 Tournament MVP after going 3-1 en route to the conference championship. She was named to the ECAC Division III Upstate All-Star Third Team and was named ECAC Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 4, 2014. Bender, a team captain, earned an all-region nod for the first time in her career after being named to the NFCA Northeast Region Second Team. She also acquired a spot on the NCAA Ithaca Regional All-Tournament Team. | 2014 Game-by-game statistics

2013: Bender made 24 appearances in the circle for the Bombers including 19 starts. She earned All-Empire 8 Second Team honors after leading Ithaca in wins (12), ERA (2.13) and innings pitched (115.0). Bender compiled a record of 12-4 while registering 40 strikeouts and eight complete games. She held opponents to a .290 batting average while allowing just 17 extra-base hits all season. Bender was 4-0 in conference games after allowing just six earned runs over 32 innings for a 1.31 earned-run average in the league. | 2013 Game-by-game statistics

2012: Bender pitched in 40 games as a sophomore, starting 36. She led Bomber pitchers in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts on her way to a First Team All-Empire 8 selection. She was named Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week in consecutive weeks after pitching 35.2 innings, striking out 24, and earning four wins. | 2012 Game-by-game statistics

2011: Bender appeared in eight games as a freshman, recording a 2-2 record with a 5.49 ERA. She made three starts and recorded one complete game. Over 21.2 innings, Bender allowed 26 hits, struck out six and walked 12. | 2011 Game-by-game statistics

High School: Bender is a 2010 graduate of Neshaminy High School and was a three-year varsity letter-winner as a pitcher and outfielder. She earned third-team honors in the Suburban One league for a league-championship team as a senior.

Personal: A biochemistry major, Sam is the daughter of Ray and Gerry Bender.