NITTANY LION CAREER
2008: Played in 54 games while starting 53 for the Nittany Lions... was the second highest in the team for RBIs with 27... recorded a career high four at-bats against Texas (2/15)... marked a season high three hits in three at-bats against Sam Houston State (3/11)... inked a career high five RBIs with two home runs against Illinois (4/5)... earned the team Defensive MVP Award... named to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
2007: Has started 47 of the 48 games she[apos]s played... hit an RBI single in win over North Carolina (2/11)... drove home a run with a base hit against UNLV (2/23)... had two RBI on two hits, including a homerun, against Washington (2/24)... had one hit and scored two runs in victory over Columbia (3/2)... tallied two hits in FAU Miken Classic semifinal win over Columbia (3/3)... scored twice in Miken Classic championship game to give PSU a 7-0 victory... hit an RBI single against Colorado State (3/9)... scored two runs in win over BYU (3/10)... hit a single and a double in upset win over No. 8 Texas (3/16)... went a perfect 3-for-3 against No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette (3/17)... hit a two-run homer in season[apos]s home opener against St. Francis (3/28)...went 2-for-2 in second game against the Red Flash (3/28)... hit go-ahead three-run double in come-from-behind win over Wisconsin (3/31)... hit a double in both games against Kent State (4/11)... cracked a two-run homer in victory over No. 7 Northwestern (4/15)... hit her first career grand slam in 14-1 win over Indiana (4/28)... tallied five hits and six RBI in weekend games with Indiana (4/27-28) and Purdue (4/29)... went 2-for-2 with a single and a double against Ohio State, also hit a sacrifice bunt (5/6).
2006: Played 37 games for the Lions with 29 starts at second base... her first collegiate hit was a homerun at East Carolina (3/25), where she went 1-for-2... had an RBI in NCAA play at Hofstra (5/21), also walking twice on the day... recorded an RBI vs. Detroit Mercy (3/7) in one of two sacrifice flies on the year... also had a sacrifice fly vs. Kent State (4/26)... her only sacrifice bunt of the year came against Illinois (4/9, game 1)... batted 1-for-3 with a run scored vs. Ohio State (5/6)... earned six walks on the year.
HIGH SCHOOL: Helped Kennedale to undefeated seasons in district play her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years... earned all-district all four years... named to the all-state tournament team senior year... earned Texas Girls Coaches first team all-state honors senior year... District MVP senior year, she also garnered district outstanding offensive player of the year her sophomore and junior years... her club team, the Texas Tomboys, won three consecutive AFA national championships from 2000-02...team captain senior year... earned nine varsity letters for softball (4), volleyball (3) and basketball (2).
PERSONAL: The daughter of Jeff and Becky Zielinski, her full name is Kayce Diane Zielinski... she is in the Masters program for Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management... she has two younger brothers J.J. (16) and Jonathan (8)... born on May 14, 1987, she enjoys shopping and hanging out with friends.
QUOTING COACH PETRINI: 'Kayce was one of the most consistent defensive players we had in our lineup last year. As she transitioned to second base, it was evident that her smooth hands and head for the game were going to be a huge asset for us. I expect her to embrace an RBI position again in our offensive lineup and lead our infield to success. I am anxious to see Kayce in her senior campaign.'