Last Week’s Stats: .455 AVG (5-for-11), 1.000 SLG%, .538 OB%, 2 R, 8 RBI, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 HBP
Zielinski helped keep Saint Francis U’s postseason hopes alive this past weekend after she led the Red Flash to a three-game NEC sweep of newcomer Mercyhurst. The first-year utility player sent all but one of her five hits for extra bases and during that stretch, she combined for eight RBI and two runs after going 5-for-11 for a .455 batting average. Zielinski doubled twice and drove in two runs in Thursday’s series opener, a commanding 7-1 triumph. In the nightcap, a 10-1 five-inning win, she crossed home once and capped off the scoring in the top of the sixth with a two-run double. The Phoenix native finished off her weekend on a tear, driving in four runs to propel the Red Flash to a 15-4 victory. She had an RBI single in the top of the second to make it a 7-0 lead before she stretched the advantage to 11 — the final margin — in the seventh inning with her seventh moon shot of the season, a three-run bomb. With 30 RBI, Zielinski is ranked second on a Red Flash squad that has put up 200 runs this season. This is Zielinski’s third NEC Rookie of the Week award, and the sixth for a Red Flash player this season. The three nods lead all NEC first-year players.