Costello, White, and Matazinsky Earn Softball Weekly Honors
MAAC Sports
Player of the Week
Christine Costello, Iona
RSo., Pitcher/Infielder, 5-8, Simi Valley, Calif./La Reina
Iona College redshirt sophomore Christine Costello posted a .533 batting average (8-for-15) for the Gaels, with 12 runs batted in and four runs scored. Costello also recorded a .611 on base percentage and 1.067 slugging percentage. In the circle, Costello went 1-0 and pitched to a 2.33 earned run average over three appearances and 18.0 total innings with 14 strikeouts. Offensively, Costello connected on two home runs, both grand slams, in league play as Iona went 4-0 against league competition. Costello went 3-5, and reached bases five times, over two games on the road against Marist. In game one, she went 2-for-2, with an RBI and run scored, and also threw seven scoreless innings for the win. In the second game, Costello connected on a second inning grand slam, and reached base twice overall. The following day, Costello went 4-for-7 with seven runs batted over two games against Manhattan. In game one, Costello went 2-for-3 with five runs batted in, coming on a RBI triple and second grand slam of the weekend. Costello also went seven strong innings in the contest, but did not factor in the decision. Costello drove in two more runs in the game two victory.
Pitcher of the Week
Melanie White, Marist
Sr., Pitcher, 6-0, Highlands Ranch, Colo./Rocky Canyon
White posted a 3-2 record with a 1.45 ERA in 29 innings this past week, covering six appearances and four starts. She recorded 35 strikeouts against just 12 walks, and allowed 24 hits, as the opposition hit only .220 against her for the week. White earned a complete-game victory in a six-inning 11-1 win at Massachusetts on April 16, as she allowed only two hits and struck out eight. She struck out 11 in a complete game against Iona on April 18. In her two relief appearances this week, White allowed one run in a total of 10 innings with 12 strikeouts while going 2-0. Included in this total was a scoreless six-inning outing with strikeouts in the Red Foxes’ 3-2 12-inning triumph at Quinnipiac on April 19.
Rookie of the Week
Briana Matazinsky, Manhattan
Fr., Pitcher/Infielder, 5-8, Valley Falls, N.Y./Tamarac
Matazinsky had three home runs, including a pair of grand slams, and 10 RBIs in six games last week. She drove in all six runs in Manhattan’s 6-4 victory over Quinnipiac on Saturday, belting a two-run homer in the second inning and the go-ahead grand slam in the sixth. Matazinsky then pitched the second game and earned the win, as the Jaspers moved to 10-0 in the MAAC. Against Iona on Sunday, she came up with the bases loaded and Manhattan trailing by four in the top of the seventh. With the Jaspers down to their last strike, she connected for a grand slam to center that tied the game at 6-6 before Manhattan ultimately fell in extra innings.