Jenny Jackson shines for Catamounts

Published in Sports on March 22, 2006 1:48 PM

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CULLOWHEE -- For the second time in its inaugural season, the Western Carolina University softball team swept the Southern Conference's weekly awards as freshman Jenny Jackson was named the Player of the Week and freshman right hander Mendy McKenzie was tabbed the league's Pitcher of the Week.

The award for Jackson, a Charles B. Aycock graduate, is the first of her career, while McKenzie has earned the weekly pitching award three times.

The duo was key in Western recording a 6-1 record last week, including a 4-1 record in the 2006 Best Western Catamount Classic and outscoring its opponents 48-to-13 and out-hitting them .364-to-.187. Both were named to the all-tournament team in the BWCC.

Jackson, who started the season primarily as a pitcher but has also served as a utility player in the outfield and at second base for the Catamounts (19-10), went 10-for-20 on the week (.500) and had six extra base hits including a pair of home runs and four doubles.

She drove in a team-high 11 runs and accompanied her double-digit RBI total with a slugging percentage of 1.000 during the same span. In Western's opening game of the Catamount Classic, Jackson drove in all four WCU runs, including a three-RBI double and a solo home run.

In the circle, Jackson recorded a weekly record of 3-1 and an ERA of 1.91 over the four appearances, three of which were complete games. She scattered 13 hits in her work while only allowing nine total runs, six of which were earned, and striking out 14 and walking just three. On Saturday afternoon, Jackson tossed the first no-hitter in WCU history as the Catamounts blanked Alabama A&M, 12-0, in five innings with one strikeout and no walks.

For the season, Jackson is hitting .355 (27-for-76) with six doubles, five home runs and 24 RBI, third on the squad. On the mound, she is 7-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 55.2 innings pitched with 33 strikeouts.

Courtesy WCU Media Relations