Feb. 26, 2008

FRISCO, Texas - A pair of Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks swept the weekly Southland Conference Softball Player of the Week awards, according to a story released by league officials Tuesday. Kendal Harper has been named SLC Hitter of the Week, and Monika Covington was named SLC Pitcher of the Week, marking the first such career honor for either player.

Harper, a sophomore from Palmer, Texas, batted .462 in eight games last week. She finished with seven extra-base hits -- two home runs, three triples and a pair of doubles -- for a 1.000 slugging percentage. Harper went 12-for-26 overall with 10 runs scored and eight RBI.

Covington, a freshman from Huffman, Texas, went 3-1 in the circle with her lone loss of the week coming at No. 3 Texas A&M. Covington posted an ERA of 3.23 for the week, including a 3-0 record with a 1.79 ERA in three starts at the NSU Invitational over the weekend. Covington threw three complete-game wins, allowing just 11 hits in the tournament, while recording 17 strikeouts. Her totals for the week were 10 earned runs in 21-and-two-thirds innings pitched with 21 hits allowed against 20 strikeouts. Covington is a team-best 5-1 overall this season.

The Ladyjacks (9-3) are scheduled to open Southland Conference play Tuesday afternoon when they kick off a three-game home series against Sam Houston State. Game 1 is set for a 5 p.m. start from Hoya Field with the series concluding Wednesday in a doubleheader, scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.

-- SFA --