NEW ORLEANS - The Sun Belt Conference announced its softball weekly honors on Tuesday. Senior Makiya Thomas of Coastal Carolina picked up the Player of the Week award, while No. 13 Louisiana’s Summer Ellyson, also a senior, earned the Pitcher of the Week nod.
 
Softball Player of the Week
 
Makiya Thomas, Coastal Carolina
(#5, Sr, OF/IF – Tacoma, Wash.)
 
Senior Makiya Thomas is currently on a five-game hitting streak, recording at least one hit in Coastal Carolina’s last five contests. The Tacoma, Washington, native batted .455 (10-for-22) and had an OBP of 1.069, lifting the Chanticleers to a 4-1 record during the stretch. Thomas knocked in a double in three-consecutive contests to total seven RBI. During the stretch, Thomas also recorded back-to-back three-hit outings against College of Charleston and Georgia State, finishing the week with five runs. CCU picked up its first conference series win, downing the Panthers 2-1 in the matchup. The weekly accolade is the first-ever for Thomas and the first for Coastal Carolina this season. The last time a Chanticleer was named the week top’s player was in 2019.
 
Softball Pitcher of the Week
 
Summer Ellyson, Louisiana
(#9, Sr, P – Lafayette, La.)
 
Senior Summer Ellyson earned three wins combined in matchups with Troy and Texas State allowing Louisiana to maintain its position atop the Sun Belt standings. In 18.0 innings of work, Ellyson gave up just five runs, scattered 13 hits and struck out 22. Her week began by sewing up the road series sweep of Troy on Monday, tossing 5.0 innings and not allowing a runner to reach scoring position aside from a third-inning home run, which was the lone blemish. Against Texas State, Ellyson took control in the circle after the series-opening defeat and steered Louisiana to back-to-back wins to claim another critical conference series victory. She worked 13.0 innings in the circle against the Bobcats and limited them to a .188 average, three runs and nine hits, without giving up a walk. The Lafayette, Louisiana, native struck out 19 over the weekend. On Sunday, she registered a one-hit shutout in the rubber match with the Bobcats, facing only one batter over the minimum in six innings. Ellyson picks up her first honor of the season and 12th of her career.  
 
Player of Week
Week 1: Belle Wolfenden, South Alabama
Week 2: Baylee Morton, App State
Week 3: Tara Oltmann, Texas State
Week 4: Sara Vanderford, Texas State
Week 5: Sara Vanderford, Texas State
Week 6: Korie Kreps, ULM 
Week 7: Tara Oltmann, Texas State
Week 8: Katie Lively, Troy
Week 9: Faith Shirley, Georgia Southern
Week 10: Makiya Thomas, Coastal Carolina
 
Pitcher of Week
Week 1: Leanna Johnson, Troy
Week 2: Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Week 3: Jessica Mullins, Texas State
Week 4: Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Week 5: Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Week 6: Leanna Johnson, Troy
Week 7: Kandra Lamb, Louisiana
Week 8: Leanna Johnson, Troy
Week 9: Olivia Lackie, South Alabama
Week 10: Summer Ellyson, Louisiana