Valparaiso softball senior Jordan Rutkowski (Alden, N.Y./Alden) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after enjoying an outstanding weekend at the plate last weekend at the Frost Classic. 

Rutkowski hit .533 (8-for-15) over the five games last weekend and slugged at an impressive 1.267 clip, picking up two doubles and three home runs.  The senior catcher also scored five runs while driving in 11 runners.  She kicked off the weekend with a 3-for-4, 2-RBI effort against East Tennessee State on Friday, but saved her best for Saturday.  In Valpo’s win over UT-Martin, Rutkowski went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs, and followed in a run-rule victory over Niagara by hitting her second career grand slam as part of a career-high six-RBI game, going 2-for-3 with a pair of round trippers.

Rutkowski earns her second career weekly honor from the league office and is already the third Crusader to earn weekly accolades this season.  The senior and the rest of the Crusaders return to action this weekend at the UTEP Invitational in El Paso, Texas, starting with a 3:30 p.m. game against Iowa State this Friday, March 2.