Freshman Phenom

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University freshman shortstop/first baseman Shana Lalo (Bethlehem/Northampton H.S.) is this week's MAC Commonwealth Conference Softball Player of the Week as she hit .526 (10-for-19) with a pair of doubles, five runs batted in and three runs scored in a 4-1 week. Defensively, she had just one error in 32 total chances (.969) while helping to turn two double-plays at short.

Lalo was 6-for-9 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored, turning both double-plays defensively, in a sweep at Scranton (7-3, 10-2) last Wednesday. She went 4-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored during Saturday's MAC Commonwealth split with Albright (6-7, 4-3).

"Shana is the most focused hitter I've seen here in my six years. In fact, she's the most focused player – period, and I think that's because she's so mentally tough," said sixth-year Susquehanna head coach Vince Anselmo.

For the season, Lalo leads the MAC Commonwealth Conference and team in hitting at .452 (33 of 73) with four doubles and 14 runs batted in. She has also walked nine times for a team best .512 on-base percentage, and is second in runs with 19. On the field, she has committed just six errors in 129 total chances for a fielding percentage of .953.

Lalo is a communications/theatre arts major with a public relations emphasis. She is the daughter of Robert and Susan Lalo.

Susquehanna is presently 14-9 overall, 7-5 and tied for third in the MAC Commonwealth Conference. The Crusaders have a tough week ahead – hosting the second-place team in the MAC Freedom Conference in Wilkes (23-7) during their final home doubleheader tomorrow at 3 p.m., and then travelling to MAC Freedom champion King's (28-4) for a twinbill Thursday at 3 p.m. Susquehanna will conclude the murderous closing stretch with a critical doubleheader at MAC Commonwealth leader Moravian (17-8, 8-2 MAC CC) in Lalo's hometown next Monday, April 24, at 1 p.m.