Softball Pitcher of the Week – Makayla Sikes, Stephen F. Austin – Sr. – Gilmer, Texas McNeese (22-10, 5-4 SLC) swept its first Southland series of the season, taking three games at home against UIW this past weekend. The Cowgirls have a midweek tilt in Lake Charles against South Alabama on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT before getting their chance at the league leader, Northwestern State (20-9, 8-1 SLC), this weekend. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Friday in Natchitoches. Honorable Mention: Alexsandra Flores, Stephen F. Austin; Rachel Hayes, Southeastern Louisiana; Rachel Haberman, Central Arkansas. This is the first weekly award for both Catron and Sikes this season. Catron produced a .444 batting average and a 1.566 slugging percentage to lead McNeese to a home sweep. The senior from Mineola, Texas, picked up four hits (all for extra bases) in the series, including three home runs. She went yard twice in series finale, including a two-run walk off to complete the come-from-behind win for the sweep. She ended the series with six RBIs and five runs. Softball Hitter of the Week – Morgan Catron, McNeese – 1B/DP – Sr. – Mineola, Texas Honorable Mention: Libby Morris, Central Arkansas; Kinsey Nichols, Southeastern Louisiana; Margarita Corona, Stephen F. Austin; Julie Rawls, Northwestern State. FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s Morgan Catron and Stephen F. Austin’s Makayla Sikes are the Southland Conference Softball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Southland Conference Players of the Week are presented by UniversalCoin.com. Sikes, a senior righty from Gilmer, Texas, earned a win each game she started this past week. After going four innings deep and striking out five to collect the midweek win at Texas Southern, Sikes earned her fifth complete game win of the season as she tossed all eight innings during the Ladyjacks’ 6-5, extra-inning victory in game one of the series with Lamar. In the series finale in Beaumont, Sikes threw five innings without giving up a run and allowed just four hits compared to six strikeouts. For the week, she kept opponents to a .227 average with a 2.06 ERA while moving to 10-5 on the season. Stephen F. Austin (17-13, 5-4 SLC) picked up a series win this past weekend over Lamar (18-14, 4-5 SLC) for the first time since 2014. The Lady Jacks wrap up a nine-game road swing with a 6 p.m. contest at Texas that will broadcast on the Longhorn Network. SFA then hosts Sam Houston State (11-21, 4-5 SLC) this weekend, beginning with a Friday doubleheader set for 4 p.m. Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on at least 25 percent of ballots.