FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Official CCIW Release

May 3, 2011-- The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin announced its weekly award winners for softball on Tuesday with North Central College's Vlasta Mangia earning Hitter of the Week accolades for the second time this season.

Mangia finished the week hitting .500 (nine-for-18) at the plate, helping the Cardinals finish the week 5-2 and secure a spot in the four-team CCIW Tournament.

Four of the freshman's nine hits went for extra bases, tallying one double, one triple and two home runs including a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth against Augustana College in a 4-3 victory. Mangia drove in five runs and stole one base and had an on-base percentage of .571.

On the season, Mangia is hitting .317 with 16 RBIs and eight extra base hits. She additionally has compiled a 9-5 record with an earned run average of 2.39 in 102 2/3 innings of work inside the circle, striking out 39.

This is the second Hitter of the Week honor for Mangia this season and the fourth CCIW weekly award for a Cardinal this season. Mangia also claimed the honor on March 22 while Laura Whitfield was Hitter of the Week on March 29 while Brianna Nelson was Pitcher of the Week on March 29.

The Cardinals host the University of Chicago today at 4 p.m. at Shanower Field in a single game before taking on Carthage College on Thursday in the opening round of the double-elimination CCIW Tournament in Decatur, Ill.