NEC SOFTBALL CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nyae’ Villalta, LIU
Outfield, Senior, Upper Marlboro, MD/Academy of Health Sciences
Last Week’s Stats: .583 AVG (7-for-12), 1.333 SLG%, .688 OB%, 5 R, 3 RBI, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 2-2 SB
Villalta put together a 1.333 slugging percentage after she went 7-for-12 at the plate with five extra base hits, including three doubles and a pair of homers. In addition, the Upper Marlboro, MD native walked four times and was a perfect 2-for-2 on the basepaths during LIU’s five-game stretch at the UCSB Tournament. Registering at least one hit in four of the five games, she crossed home one time in each of those games. Hitting her first career home run on Thursday against UCSB, Villalta turned the trick in her next game on Friday against Iowa State. In Friday’s nightcap against UCSB, she also doubled a career-best two times. The senior outfielder is the first LIU player this season to earn a weekly award from the NEC.

Sofia Zielinski, Saint Francis
Utility, Sophomore, Phoenix, AZ/Xavier College Prep
Last Week’s Stats: .615 AVG (8-for-13), 1.385 SLG%, .706 OB%, 6 R, 5 RBI, 2 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 HBP
Zielinski had a hand in more than half of the Red Flash’s runs at the Birds Up Bash in San Antonio after she scored six times and drove in five during the five-game stretch. The sophomore utility player had two big outings in Saint Francis’ final two games against UTSA. Going 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a pair of runs on Saturday, the sophomore utility player homered again on Sunday as part of a 3-for-4 effort that included a triple, three RBI and three runs. This is her second career NEC Player of the Week award, and the first for a Saint Francis player this season. 

NEC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Katie Rhodes, New Haven
Pitcher, Sophomore, Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Last Week’s Stats: 1.40 ERA, 2 APP, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, .235 OPP AVG
Seeing two relief appearances during New Haven’s Division I debut, Rhodes allowed just one run in 5.0 innings against North Dakota State on Saturday and Gardner-Webb on Sunday. The sophomore hurler held the Bison off the scoreboard after limiting them to just two base runners on one hit and a walk in 3.0 innings of work. A native of Ballston Spa, NY, Rhodes became the first Charger to win a weekly award from the NEC this season.
  
NEC SOFTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Olivia Hood, Saint Francis
Infield, Freshman, New Castle, PA/New Castle
Last Week’s Stats: .400 AVG (6-for-15), .467 SLG%, .438 OB%, 3R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB
Hood became the first player to repeat as an NEC weekly award winner this season as she previously took home NEC Rookie of the Week distinction on Feb. 24. The infielder had another productive week at the plate for the Red Flash at the Birds Up Bash in San Antonio. Registering at least one hit in each of her final four games against New Mexico State, North Dakota and UTSA, Hood also scored three runs and drove in five more during the five-game stretch.

NEC PRIME PERFORMERS

Nyae’ Villata, LIU (OF, Sr)
Last Week’s Stats: .583 AVG (7-for-12), 1.333 SLG%, .688 OB%, 5 R, 3 RBI, 3 2B, 2 HR, 4 BB, 2-2 SB

• NEC Co-Player of the Week
• Registered at least one hit in four of five games of the UCSB Tournament and scored one run in each of those contests
• Smacked a career-high two doubles at UCSB on Friday (Feb. 27)
• Launched two homers — including the first of her career — in back-to-back games against UCSB (Feb. 26) and Iowa State (Feb. 27)

 
Cianna Benamati, LEM (3B, So)
Last Week’s Stats: .375 AVG (3-for-8), .750 SLG%, .375 OB%, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR

• Gave Le Moyne a 2-0 lead against Delaware with a second-inning home run
• Finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate

 
Audrey Benderski, LEM (1B, Sr)
Last Week’s Stats: .333 AVG (3-for-9), .667 SLG%, .455 OB%, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 2 BB

• Went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI against Bryant on Saturday (Feb. 28)
• Hit a three-run homer in that game against the Bulldogs

 
Jazlynn Sanders, MU (1B, So)
Last Week’s Stats: .385 AVG (5-for-13), .692 SLG%, .357 OB%, 1 R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR

• Hit a home run to open the scoring against Hawaii at the OUTRIGGER Classic on Saturday (Feb. 28)

 
Katie Rhodes, NHVN (So, P)
Last Week’s Stats: 1.40 ERA, 2 APP, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, .235 OPP AVG

• NEC Pitcher of the Week
• Did not allow an earned run in 3.0 innings of relief against North Dakota State on Saturday (Feb. 28)

 
Olivia Hood, SFU (IF, Fr)
Last Week’s Stats: .400 AVG (6-for-15), .467 SLG%, .438 OB%, 3R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB

• NEC Rookie of the Week

 
Marianne Labelle, SFU (OF, Jr.)
Last Week’s Stats: .500 AVG (8-for-16), .500 SLG%, .556 OB%, 8 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2-2 SB

• Registered multiple hits in three games at the Birds Up Bash, including a 3-for-3 outing against UT Arlington (Feb. 27)

 
Sofia Zielinski, SFU (UT, So)
Last Week’s Stats: .615 AVG (8-for-13), 1.385 SLG%, .706 OB%, 6 R, 5 RBI, 2 3B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 2 HBP

• NEC Co-Player of the Week
• Closed out the Birds Up Bash with consecutive three-hit outings against UTSA, combining for five RBI with a triple and two home runs

 
Leilani Gonzales, WAG (2B, Jr)
Last Week’s Stats: .400 AVG (4-for-10), .800 SLG%, .455 OB%, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB

• Went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the opening game of the Charge on Classic to lead Wagner past Florida A&M on Thursday (Feb. 26)
• Doubled and tripled against the Rattlers