The Southern Conference named UNC Greensboro’s Gwen Johnson its softball Player of the Week, while the Catamounts’ Mendy McKenzie was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week for the week ending February 26.
Johnson, a senior centerfielder, hit .636 (7-for-11) in the Spartans’ 2-2 week. The preseason All-SoCon second team selection went 2-for-2 with a walk, double, and run scored in a loss to Radford last week and then followed that up by going 2-for-2 with a solo home run and two runs scored in a 4-3 victory over Kennesaw State last Friday in the KSU Classic.
A native of Boston, VA, Johnson went 3-for-4 with three runs plated, a triple and three-run homer in the Spartans’ 9-8 win over Toledo.
McKenzie, a freshman and a preseason second-team All-SoCon selection, tossed 15 and a third innings for the Catamounts last week, scattering 17 hits and allowing only three earned runs. The defending SoCon hurler of the week fanned 17 batters in four appearances for the Catamounts in the Charlotte Holiday Inn First Pitch Classic.
McKenzie started three of the four games in the Charlotte tournament for Western Carolina, receiving two no decisions and picking up a win in the North Carolina A&T game. The freshman also saw the first relief action of her intercollegiate career in a loss to Charlotte, pitching a third of an inning.
Others considered for the Player of the Week award included Appalachian State’s Lindsay Glover (.562 batting average in 3-2 week), College of Charleston’s Jennifer Golden (.333 batting average and 11 RBIs last week), Chattanooga’s Ashleigh Bull (nine hits and two home runs in 5-3 week for Lady Mocs), Elon’s Debbie Ziegler (.333 batting average, five RBIs in 3-2 week), Furman’s Amber Nelsen (7-for-12 with two home runs and six RBIs in 2-1 showing at Georgia State Spring Showdown), Georgia Southern’s Heather Smith (.500 batting average in 2-3 week) and Western Carolina’s Jenny Jackson (.385 with double and home run in 2-2 week).
Those who received consideration for Pitcher of the Week included Chattanooga’s JayCee Wood (pitched four complete games, striking out 20 batters in 28.2 innings pitched), Elon’s Carol Lilley (1-1 week, fanning 12 in 2-1win over Big East foe Rutgers) and UNC Greensboro’s Hannah Angel (1-1 record last week in 14 innings work, including first collegiate victory in win over Kennesaw State).
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