Monday, March 12, 2007

Megan Carroll (Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids) and Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) have been named the Mid-Continent Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, after leading Valparaiso to an 8-2 record last week at the Rebel Spring Games.

Carroll earns her second career Player of the Week honor from the conference after hitting .444 last week with five runs scored and three RBIs out of the leadoff spot for Valpo. The senior outfielder hit safely in eight of the Crusaders' 10 games, including seven straight. Against Penn on March 5, Carroll went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and followed with a 4-for-4 effort March 6 against Sacred Heart, tallying two doubles and two triples. She then hit safely in her first two at-bats against Georgetown, giving her nine consecutive at-bats with a hit.

Zappia receives her first Pitcher of the Week accolade from the league after a stellar week in the circle. The junior went 3-0 last week with a 1.30 ERA while also registering one save in six appearances. She allowed just 19 hits in 27 innings of work for the week, striking out 29 batters and walking only four. She began the week with a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings against Saint Peter's, and followed with 5 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen versus Sacred Heart, helping Valpo to rally from a 6-2 deficit to win 13-6. Zappia also earned a complete game victory against Colgate, allowing just four hits and an unearned run.

Valparaiso (9-3) takes on Gardner-Webb in a doubleheader today. Two more wins would give the Crusaders 10 straight victories, which would be a program record.