The Southern Conference today named Georgia Southern’s Shanita Black its softball Player of the Week and Western Carolina’s Mendy McKenzie its Pitcher of the Week for the week ending April 16. The honor is the second straight Player of the Week nod for Black and the fourth of the campaign for McKenzie as Pitcher of the Week.
Black, a senior outfielder, collected a hit in each of Georgia Southern’s games last week to raise her hitting streak to 30 consecutive games.
The Fayetville, NC, native was 6-for-11 on the week in the Eagles’ four games, tallying two RBIs and picking up her 11th career triple to tie for first all-time in the department in school history. Black ends things on the week leading the league in hits (67), runs (50), triples (6) and stolen bases (24).
A freshman pitcher from Clemmons, NC, McKenzie went 3-0 last week, hurling complete seven inning performances in each of her wins. In her 21.0 innings pitched, McKe nzie garnered an ERA of 1.33 and struck out 24 batters.
In total on the week, McKenzie, who owns a league-best ERA of 2.13 overall, held her opponents last week to a batting average of .195 against her.
Others considered for the Player of the Week award included Appalachian State’s Kasey Motsinger (hit back-to-back three-run home runs in win over UNC Greensboro to tie school record for RBIs in a contest with six), College of Charleston’s Jennifer Golden (.375 batting average in 2-1 week), Chattanooga’s Jeannie Cochran (.389 batting average, acquiring her first career home run in win over Birmingham Southern), Elon's Rebecca Rijavec (.438 batting average in Phoenix's five games), (Furman’s Jessica Mathis (.400 batting average and three home runs last week) and Western Carolina’s Ashley Adams (hit .438 with four runs scored and five RBIs in 4-1week).
Those who received consideration for Pitcher of the Week included Appalachian State’s Yancy Moose (2-1 with a 0.40 ERA in 18.0 innings pitched), College of Charleston’s Shannon Howard (1-1 with a 1.08 ERA), Chattanooga’s Ashley Frizell (2-1 with a 1.96 ERAand 21 strikeouts), Furman’s Vanessa Williams (win over Elon and 2.33 ERA in two appearances last week) and Georgia Southern’s Melissa Laliberte (1-1 record with a 1.37 ERA).