The Southern Conference named Western Carolina’s Jenny Jackson its softball Player of the Week, while the Catamounts’ Mendy McKenzie was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 19. This marks the second time in the 2006 campaign that Western Carolina has swept the weekly softball awards and the third time this season that McKenzie has been dubbed the league’s Pitcher of the Week.

A freshman, Jackson, who plays both leftfield and pitches for the Catamounts, threw the first no-hitter in Western Carolina school history in a 12-0 five-inning win over Alabama A&M and hit .500 (10-for-20).

The Fremont, NC, native garnered a 3-1 record from the mound on the week, while also securing a team-high 11 RBIs and a slugging percentage of 1.000 in the same time span. Jackson commandeered six extra-base knocks (two home runs and four doubles) as well en route to being named to the Best Western Catamount Classic All-Tournament squad.

McKenzie, a freshman, won her third Pitcher of the Week accolade after going 3-0 last week with an ERA of 0.82. McKenzie, in 17 innings of work, allowed just two runs and nine base hits and held opponents to a .153 batting average.

For her efforts, McKenzie was named to the Best Western Catamount Classic All-Tournament team.

Others considered for the Player of the Week award included Appalachian State’s Kristyn Hurt (hit .400 with two doubles and a home run in league-opening series with Furman), College of Charleston’s Leshe Russell (.583 batting average with five RBIs in .500 week for Cougars), Chattanooga’s Jeannie Cochran (hit .350 in 4-2 week for Lady Mocs), Elon’s Rebbeca Rijavec (.333 batting average in 2-4 week for Elon), Georgia Southern’s Shanita Black (.579 from the plate in 3-2 week for GSU) and UNC Greensboro’s Jennifer Bonilla (hit .500 to lead UNCG to 3-1 week).

Those who received consideration for Pitcher of the Week included Chattanooga’s Ashley Frizzell (4-1 record last week with 23 strikeouts), Georgia Southern’s Melissa Laliberte (1-1 week and 0.43 ERA in four appearances) and UNC Greensboro’s Vanessa Oakes (2-0 record with 0.45 ERA in 15 innings pitched).