Shotzbarger, Sansano, Berzins Earn Softball Weekly Awards
MAAC Sports
Shotzbarger, Sansano, Berzins Earn MAAC Softball Weekly Awards: April 29, 2014
Player of the Week
Rachel Shotzbarger - Monmouth
Fr., SS, Saugus, Calif./Saugus
The MAAC Softball Player of the Week is Rachel Shotzbarger. The freshman shortstop hit a team-leading .667 (10-for-15) with four doubles, a home run, five RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base in the Hawks’ 4-1 week. Shotzbarger started the week with a 3-for-3 effort with an RBI against Penn on April 23. She then went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Game 1 against Niagara, before erupting for a 3-for-4 effort with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored as the Hawks defeated Niagara, 11-3, in a shortened Game 2. Shotzbarger finished the week with a double and a run scored in Game 1 against Canisius, before going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Game 2. For the week, she posted a .688 on-base percentage and a 1.133 slugging percentage.
Pitcher of the Week
Jennifer Sansano - Niagara
Sr., P, 6-0, Clarence, N.Y./St. Bonaventure
The MAAC Softball Pitcher of the Week is Jennifer Sansano. The senior had a 0.85 ERA in 33 innings while only allowing four earned runs in seven appearances for Niagara last week. Sansano, who made five starts, went 2-2 to improve her record to 10-9 this season. Her first win came on Senior Day against Monmouth, where she recorded eight strikeouts in the complete game win. Sansano pitched eight scoreless innings as NU topped Rider, 1-0, on April 27. She also earned her first save of the season when she pitched two relief innings in Niagara’s 6-2 win in game two against Rider. Sansano finished the week with 40 strikeouts, including three games of eight-plus Ks, to move into a tie for fourth place all-time in career strikeouts at Niagara.
Rookie of the Week
Jessica Berzins - Canisius
Fr., OF, Placentia, Calif./Valencia
The MAAC Softball Rookie of the Week is Jessica Berzins. The freshman outfielder hit .389 (7-for-18) with a double, five runs scored and two RBI in six games for the Golden Griffins last week. She had two multi-hit games, one at Niagara and one at home against Rider, and she scored at least one run in five of the six games she played a week ago. She also drew a team-high six walks last week. Berzins is on a five-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 10-straight games. For the week, she posted a .542 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage, while recording five putouts and two outfield assists.