SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Georgia Southern junior Marie Fogle picked up Southern Conference Softball Player of the Week honors Monday following a strong weekend at the Tennessee Classic.
    The selection, made by the league office, is Georgia Southern’s first weekly award of the 2011 season. Elon’s Lauren Taylor was named league Pitcher of the Week.
    Fogle hit .625 at the plate with a 1.375 slugging percentage for the week. She also scored twice with three RBIs and two steals. Against Louisiana-Monroe, Fogle was 3-for-3 and missed hitting for the cycle by a home run. Against No. 7 Tennessee, Fogle completed the weekend cycle by hitting her third first-inning leadoff home run of the season.
    Georgia Southern returns to play on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Mercer at Eagle Field with start times scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m.

Eagles open conference play
    The Georgia Southern men’s tennis team (4-5) has home-court advantage this week for its first Southern Conference match as the Eagles go up against Furman (1-10) today at 1:30 p.m at Hanner Tennis Complex.             Georgia Southern steps out of conference play Wednesday as Florida Gulf Coast (0-6) visits.
    The Eagles did not compete for the last nine days, but are ready to begin the next part of their season.
    “We had a nice break last week, which has given us a few extra days to work on some areas of our game,” said GSU coach Nick Zieziula. “We're excited to get back out and compete on our home courts. With six of our next seven matches at home, we hope to get some momentum going.”

SEB run rules Liberty
    HINESVILLE — The Southeast Bulloch Yellow Jackets (4-2) knocked off Liberty Cou nty 11-1 in five innings Monday on the road.
    Gage Weaver got the win, going the distance and striking out five.
    Weaver also drove in a pair of runs, aloong with Taylor Burroughs and Kyle Brown.
    Ryan Adams crossed the plate twice in the win.
    The Yellow Jackets face Bryan County Wednesday in Pembroke. Junior varsity plays at 4 p.m. and varsity plays at 6 p.m.

WJMS finishes week 3-0
    William James Middle School won three games in soccer action last week.
    The boys beat Langston Chapel Tuesday after trailing 2-1 at the half.
    Leon Roberson scored three times off of three Alex Wagner assists.
    Wesley Budgettm Matt Samiratedu and Hunter Berger each scored, and Samiratedu, Sam Lanier and Emilio Quintero finished with assists.
    The girls defeated LCMS to complete the sweep in a 4-0 win.
    Keeper Tia Thomas had three saves and defender Cally Reed helped preserve the shutout.
    Tess Newton and Emmalyne Sisson each scored a goal, and Chelsea Wilson scored two.
    Katie Wilson had a pair of assists, and Abby Wallace and Faith Hood added an assist each.
    Wednesday, the girls defeated Screven County 3-0.
    Sisson scored twice and Chelsea Wilson scored a goal as well.
    Reed, Sam Pollak and Alexis Costlow helped defend the shutout.

Claxton goes down at Long County
    LUDOWICI — The Claxton Tigers (4-3) fell 9-6 Monday on the road at Long County.
    Michael Peel went 4-for-4 in the effort.
    The Tigers host Tattnall County Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Statesboro JV edges SEB
    The Statesboro junior Varsity Blue Devils (1-0-4) got in the win column Monday with a 2-1 win over Southeast Bulloch's junior varsity Yellow Jackets.
    Carlos Martinez and Andrew Ballard did the scoring for the Blue Devils, and Walker Paul Tedders assisted both goals.
    The teams rematch in Brooklet on March 17.

Texas Tech fires Knight
    LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Pat Knight sat in the Texas Tech locker room and lauded his bosses for the way they let him go after three disappointing seasons.
    It was, after all, different from the way his famous father was ousted at Indiana more than a decade ago.
    "It's not an ugly situation," Knight said. "I mean, we left on good terms. I'm glad it ended like that, especially after being part of the deal at Indiana. That was tough. But this is different. It's business."
    Texas Tech fired Knight on Monday, ending a disappointing tenure for a coach who failed to lead the Red Raiders to the NCAA tournament after taking over for his father in February 2008.

    If you have a score to report, please call the Statesboro Herald sports desk at (912) 489-9408.