Saint Xavier University's Kyle Zilis (Oak Forest, Ill.) and Judson University's Zach Scipione (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) kept their teams in the thick of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball race with high-rated performances on the mound and at the plate during the week ending May 3.

Zilis struck out 14 batters to open a key three-game series with Purdue University North Central in earning conference pitcher of the week honors, while Scipione authored at least one hit and one RBI in each of Judson's four games - all victories - during the week to claim player of the week honors in the league.

Zilis, a senior, went the nine-inning distance in the 3-1 victory on May 1, allowing only three hits, one run and one walk.

Saint Xavier (36-13, 22-5) took two of three games from PUNC (30-20, 20-7) to maintain a two-game lead over the Panthers for first place in the league with three games to go in the regular season.

Scipione, a senior outfielder, batted .545 with six hits in 11 at bats and three runs scored. In three of his four games played, he also produced multiple-RBI contests including a three-RBI affair in an 11-0 second-game victory over Indiana University Northwest on May 2. For the week, Scipione drove home 11 runs.

Judson's 4-0 week, which included a pair of wins over CCAC rival Robert Morris College, kept the Eagles (29-20, 19-8) in third place in the league standings, one game behind Purdue North Central for the coveted second spot.