Courtesy of the NEC
NEC Player of the Week
Madelaine Wilen, Fairleigh Dickinson
Catcher, Junior, Bakerfield, CA/Ridgeview
Wilen went on a tear at the plate last week, notching a hit in all four games to help lead the Knights to a 3-1 record. In a doubleheader sweep at Wagner with two 2-1 victories on Monday, Wilen went 3-6, scored two runs and smacked two doubles, including driving in the game winning run in the top of the seventh in game two. The junior was on fire in a split against LIU Brooklyn on Friday as well. In game one, Wilen smacked a home run and scored two runs as the Knights rolled to a 7-0 win. The junior went a perfect 3-3 with a double in game two as the Knights fell in a 13-2 decision. She hit .583 on the week with three doubles, a triple, a homer, four runs scored and two RBIs.
NEC Pitcher of the Week
Laura Messina, Central Connecticut
Pitcher, Senior, Marlton, NJ/Camden Catholic
In winning her third NEC Pitcher of the Week honor, Messina was a force to be reckoned with in the circle last week, guiding Central Connecticut to a 4-0 record. The senior tossed three complete games, including two shutouts, struck out 39 batters, and allowed a miniscule .127 opponent batting average. The senior only allowed two runs and one extra base hit for the week, all coming on a two run homerun in a 4-3 win over fellow Connecticut foe Fairfield on Thursday. Messina guided the Blue Devils to a sweep of Sacred Heart on Saturday, tossing shutouts and recording double-digit strikeouts in both games.
NEC Rookie of the Week
Tori Constantin, Central Connecticut
First Base, Freshman, Norfolk, MA/King Philip Regional
Constantin was stellar for the Blue Devils last week, hitting .375 and slugging .688, to go along with three RBIs to help lead the Blue Devils to a perfect 4-0 week. Constantin proved to be the hero in Central’s 4-3, come from behind victory against Fairfield on Thursday. With the bases load in the bottom of the seventh, the rookie singled up the middle past a diving shortstop to plate the winning run in walk-off fashion. Constantin went 3-4 with a solo home run and two RBI. The Norfolk, MA product had a productive game one in a sweep of NEC foe Sacred Heart on Saturday, going 2-4 and driving in a run.
