Wednesday, March 19, 2008

For the second time this season, senior Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) has been named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week.  Zappia earns this week’s accolade after going 2-0 with a save at last weekend’s Maryland Spring Break Classic, including a complete-game victory over #23 Maryland, Valpo’s first over a ranked opponent in the tenure of head coach Randy Schneider.

Zappia kicked off her week with a complete-game shutout of UMBC, striking out nine batters while allowing just two hits.  She followed with her win over Maryland before closing out the weekend with two perfect innings of relief versus St. Peter’s to earn her 15^th career save, among the top-15 in NCAA history in the category.

On the season, the senior is currently 6-2 with a 1.29 ERA.  Over 48.2 innings of work, Zappia has struck out 49 batters and walked just 10, and is allowing opponents to hit just .169 against her at the plate.  Zappia and the rest of the Crusaders open up the 2008 home campaign on Saturday with a doubleheader at the Valparaiso University Softball Field versus Green Bay beginning at noon.