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Iona University Athletics

2023 Softball Roster

Stockton Photo Inc.
Stockton Photo Inc.
Stockton Photo Inc.
John Jones - Stockton Photo Inc.
John Jones - Stockton Photo Inc.
John Jones - Stockton Photo Inc.
Navraj Sandhu
Navraj Sandhu
Liberty Photography
Liberty Photography

29 Kara Zazzaro

  • Hometown Southington, CT
  • High School Southington
  • Position Pitcher
  • Bats / Throws Right / Right
  • Class Graduate Student
  • Major Business
  • Height 5-9

Biography

AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (2023):
  • MAAC All-Academic Team honoree
  • All-MAAC First Team selection (Pitcher)
  • 1x MAAC Pitcher of the Week
  • Became program's all-time leader in career strikeouts (812)
  • Made 29 appearances in the circle, starting 20 games
  • Pitched to a 13-8 record, throwing 14 complete games, a career-best six shutouts and earning two saves
  • Struck out 201 batters and held opposing batters to a .200 average
  • Team-low 1.96 earned run average
  • Struck out at least 10 batters in nine different appearances
  • Ranked 26th in NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings (8.9) and 24th in strikeouts (201)
  • Struck out 16 batters vs. Fordham (March 22) and vs. Mount St. Mary's (April 3)
AS A SENIOR (2022):
  • Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete
  • MAAC All-Academic Team honoree
  • All-MAAC First Team selection (Pitcher)
  • 1x MAAC Co-Pitcher of the Week
  • Made 29 appearances in the circle, starting 25 games
  • Pitched to a 12-11 record, throwing 14 complete games, two shutouts and closing out two contests
  • Struck out 237 batters, the second-most in a single season in program history
  • Pitched to a team-low 2.18 earned run average and limited the opposition to a .182 batting average
  • Surpassed 500 career strikeouts, becoming just the fourth Gael to reach that mark in program history
  • Struck out at least 10 batters in 11 different appearances
  • Ranked 21st in NCAA in strikeouts per seven innings (9.7), 23rd in strikeouts (237) and 27th hits allowed per seven innings (4.48)
  • Season-high 16 strikeouts against Cleveland State (March 4)
AS A JUNIOR (2021):
  • MAAC All-Academic Team honoree
  • MAAC Pitcher of the Year
  • All-MAAC First Team selection (Pitcher)
  • NFCA Great Lakes All-Region Third Team selection
  • 1x MAAC Pitcher of the Week honoree
  • Made 28 appearances in the circle, starting 19 games
  • Pitched to a 19-4 record, tossing 17 complete games, three shutouts and notching two saves
  • Struck out 179 batters across 148.1 innings pitched
  • Boasted a 2.64 earned run average and .217 batting average against
  • Led the MAAC in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins
  • Went hitless in her lone at bat of the season
  • Had six games with 10+ strikeouts, including a season-high 16 in complete-game win over Niagara (March 20)
  • Tossed a complete-game shutout at Quinnipiac (April 14), allowing four hits and striking out eight
  • Went 20.2 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run spanning six appearances from April 18 to May 1
  • Had two separate streaks of five straight appearances with a win, as well as a streak of four consecutive appearances with a win
AS A SOPHOMORE (2020):
  • MAAC Academic Honor Roll honoree
  • Appeared in six games, starting three contests
  • 1-3 season record with 3.90 ERA
  • Complete-game win at Towson, allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts
  • Season-best seven strikeouts in loss to Stony Brook (March 6)
  • Hitless in nine at-bats, drew two walks
  • Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
AS A FRESHMAN (2019):
  • All-MAAC Second Team selection (Pitcher) and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree
  • 2x MAAC Rookie of the Week and 1x MAAC Pitcher of the Week
  • Started 22 games in the circle; threw 20 complete games and tossed the ninth no-hitter in program history at Saint Peter's (April 7)
  • Team leader in wins (10), ERA (1.47), shutouts (5), saves (2), strikeouts (172) and batting average against (.194)
  • Led the MAAC in ERA, second in innings pitched (176.2), third in strikeouts, batting average against and was fifth in wins
  • Struck out double-digits in three different starts, including a program record 17 at Monmouth (May 3)
  • In seven appearances from Apr. 13-28, allowed just two earned runs across 37 innings, notching four wins and a save
BEFORE IONA:
  • Two sport athlete with softball and swimming
  • Three-time All-Conference selection (2016, 2017, 2018)
  • 2018 Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State Selection
  • 2018 MaxPreps Second Team All-American
  • 2018 Hartford Courant Softball Player of the Year
  • 2018 Record Journal Softball Player of the Year
  • 2017-18 Southington High School Team MVP
  • Was All-Conference in swimming & diving in 2016 and 2018
GET TO KNOW KARA:
  • Why did you choose Iona?: The high standard of academics and strong sense of community really drew me Iona. It was evident that the faculty, staff, and students really care about being part of a quality school. The competitive softball program was an amazing draw as well.
  • Favorite food: Pasta
  • Hobbies: Camping, reading, swimming and playing beach volleyball
  • People I admire: Parents and older sister
  • Community service: Parish Youth Ministry at my church-Wrote holiday cards for the people in convalescent homes, Crop Walk for Hunger, helped distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to those in need in my town.

Statistics

Season:
2023

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 15

    2019Freshman

    Pitcher
    5'9"
    15
  • 29

    2020Sophomore

    Pitcher
    5'9"
    29
  • 29

    2021Junior

    Pitcher
    5'9"
    29
  • 29

    2022Senior

    Pitcher
    5'9"
    29
  • 29

    2023Graduate Student

    Pitcher
    5'9"
    29