The Horizon League announced today that Crusader senior pitcher Andrea Zappia (Indianapolis, Ind./Franklin Central) has been named its U.S. Army Female Scholar-Athlete of the Month for the month of March.

Zappia posted an 8-2 record with three saves for Valpo during the month of March, registering an ERA of 1.41 as she struck out 73 batters in just 64.1 innings of play.  Her three saves last month gave her 17 for her career, placing her among the Top-10 in NCAA Division I history in that category.  Zappia was twice named the Horizon League Pitcher of the Week during March.  Her month was highlighted by a 7-5 win at #23 Maryland on March 15, Valpo's first victory over a ranked team in Zappia's career.

As a history major, Zappia boasts a 3.792 grade-point average.  She is a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete, and was named the Horizon League U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week on March 11.  Zappia also was recognized on the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District V Second Team as a junior, and was a two-time Mid-Continent Conference All-Academic Team member. She also was named to the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll last fall.