Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Third baseman Shelbi Tucker, who led Sam Houston to the Bearkats’ second Southland Conference series sweep of the 2013 season, was named Monday as the league’s softball “hitter of the week.”

The Kats kept pace with league leaders McNeese State and Northwestern State in the Southland race by sweeping Nicholls State with 8-7, 5-4 and 11-2 victories.

In the series-opening doubleheader, Tucker accounted for both game-winning hits including a walk-off home run in the first game to cap the Bearkats’ comeback to win 8-7 after trailing 7-3.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the senior from Montgomery knocked a three-RBI triple in the sixth inning with Sam Houston trailing 4-2 to give the Bearkats the 5-4 win.

For the weekend, Tucker hit .778 (7-for-9) with a home run, a triple and five RBI while scoring five runs.

She slugged an impressive 1.333 percent while recording an on-base percentage of .800.

Sam Houston State will close out its 2013 regular season schedule this week with a 4 p.m. non-conference doubleheader with Texas Southern and a Southland showdown series with first place McNeese State Saturday and Sunday.

First pitch both days for the Cowgirls series is 1 p.m.

Saturday will be a doubleheader while Sunday is a single game.