Michigan State University Athletics
Zalewski Named B1G Freshman of the Week
2/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
East Lansing, Mich.-- Michigan State redshirt freshman pitcher Kristina Zalewski (Ann Arbor, Mich) has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday afternoon. It is the first round of weekly honors in the Big Ten for the 2015 season.
Zalewski, who was forced to take a medical redshirt in 2014, has returned to the active roster and appeared in four of Michigan State's five games last weekend at Stetson's Westin Lake Mary Leadoff Classic. She earned a pair of wins (over Morehead State and host Stetson), and picked up her first career save in relief against Rhode Island. Over 11.1 innings, she recorded 14 strikeouts, surrendering just five hits (none for extra bases) and did not allow a run, and issued just three walks. She posted a career-best seven strikeouts in four innings of work against Morehead State, combining on a two-hitter with Dani Goranson. She tossed 2.1 innings against Stetson, striking out three in relief, allowing the Hatters just one hit over the balance of the game.
The Freshman of the Week honor is MSU's first since Stephanie Sanders earned the award in March 2012. Zalewski shares this week's honor with infielder Danielle Parlich of Minnesota, which opened 5-0 last week.
MSU went 4-1 in its season-opening tournament, it's best start since 2008. The Spartans are back in action this weekend when they travel to Boca Raton, Florida to take part in the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament. MSU will play five games, against Tulsa, Providence Drexel, and a pair against the host Owls.
