(Posted May 4, 2004)

Huntingdon, PA - Juniata College sophomores David Saintz (Titusville/Titusville) and Cody Zong (Lewistown/McVeytown) have earned Commonwealth Conference player and pitcher of the week respectively for part in helping Juniata to a 5-1 week, and securing a spot in the Commonwealth postseason.

Saintz paced the Juniata offense for the week as he posted a team-high .458 batting average over the team's six games. He was particularly hot over the first four games as he went 12-for-16 with six runs scored and three RBI during that stretch. Six of his 11 hits on the week went for extra bases, including three triples. Saintz knocked out at least three hits in three games, and scored a run in all but one game during the week.

Zong posted a 2-0 record on the week with both victories coming in conference games. He tossed eight innings allowing two runs on six hits in a victory over Albright early in the week. Then on the final day of the regular season he recorded his first career shutout, locking down Susquehanna with a complete-game two-hitter over seven innings of the doubleheader. He fanned a career-high eight hitters against Albright, and added six strikeouts against only one walk in the win against Susquehanna. His earned run average for the week was 1.20.

"David is one of the clear offensive leaders of this team, and he has been awesome over the past few weeks," Head Coach George Zanic stated. "He's a threat for an extra base hit every time he comes to the plate with his speed. He is jump starting our lineup right now. Cody is pitching the way we knew he could when we recruited him. He was a dominant high school pitcher, and has really come on towards the end of the season. We're excited to see what he's capable of doing in the postseason.

For the season, Saintz has been one of Juniata's top offensive performers. He ranks second on the team in batting average (.339), hits (38), runs (23), RBI (19) and total bases (57). He leads the team with 12 stolen bases along with six triples, which ties him for the Juniata single-season record in that category. Five of his six triples have come in Juniata's last eight games. After some early-season struggles, Zong has improved his record to 2-3, while lowering his ERA to a solid 4.14. He ranks second among Eagle pitchers with 31 strikeouts and opponents are hitting just .279 against him this season.

Juniata closed the regular season with a 21-14 record and finished second in the Commonwealth Conference with a 14-7 mark. The second-place finish earned Juniata a spot in the Commonwealth postseason for the first time since 2001. The Eagles will open the postseason as they host Moravian College on Wednesday, then will compete over the weekend at Owls Field in Reading. The winner of the conference postseason tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

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