The Southern Conference named Western Carolina’s Lauren Ross its softball Player of the Week, while the Catamounts’ Mendy McKenzie was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the week ending February 20. The honors are the first for any Western Carolina softball player, as the Catamounts are in the midst of their first season of intercollegiate fast-pitch softball.

A freshman, Ross commenced Western Carolina’s softball history by obtaining the initial hit and home run in her first at-bat for the

Catamounts in their first win all-time, a 3-1 victory over Tennessee Tech in the Georgia State First Pitch Classic. Ross added to her tally in the game against the Golden Eagles in the sixth inning when she garnered her second homer of the game. Ross finished the contest a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

The Hope Mills, NC, native ended the Catamounts’ first four games 5-for-12 (.471) from the plate with four RBIs after going 2-for-6 with an RBI and three runs scored in Western Carolina’s home sweep of South Carolina State on Sunday.

McKenzie, a freshman and a preseason second-team All-SoCon selection, started the Tennessee Tech game for the Catamounts, acquiring her first win after scattering just five hits and one run in seven innings. The Clemmons, NC, native struck out the first batter she faced in college and eventually ended the game against the Golden Eagles with 10 punchouts. McKenzie improved to 2-0 on the young season in the Catamounts’ 10-0 win over South Carolina State in the first game of a twinbill on Sunday. The West Forsyth High product struck out nine in the game and allowed three total hits.

In McKenzie’s two wins, she procured 19 strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched.

Others considered for the Player of the Week award included Chattanooga’s Ashleigh Bull (.304 batting average in eight games), Furman’s Megan Jaudon (.394 batting average and four RBIs in eight games) and UNC Greensboro’s Krista Judge (.294 batting average in five games).

Those who received consideration for Pitcher of the Week included Chattanooga’s JayCee Wood (2-2 record, 4.5 Ks per outing).