University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Softball Begins Practice
1/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Southern Miss Softball Begins Practice
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? The Southern Miss softball team began practice today, aiming at its third-straight Conference USA championship, as well as returning to NCAA Regionals.
?We are excited. The kids look great and came back after Christmas break in great shape,? stated Coach Gay McNutt, who begins her second season with the Lady Eagles. ?We have already met and set our goals. We have some high ones, but I think they are obtainable, and we are ready to work towards them.?
Southern Miss starts the season on Feb. 12, hosting McNeese State. The upcoming schedule features appearances at three invitational tournaments, potentially 15 games against Southeastern Conference opponents, four scheduled games against Big 12 opponents and over 20 games against teams that made the NCAA Regionals last season, including a matchup against 2001 national-champion Arizona.
Sixteen home dates are listed, including non-conference games against Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. Southern Miss will compete at Mississippi State?s Bulldog Classic, as well as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association?s Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., and Arizona?s Hildenbrand Tournament.
The Lady Eagles head to the Lone Star State for doubleheaders against Texas and Texas A&M, and trips to Alabama and LSU complete the non-league road contests. The conference home games feature DePaul, Louisville, Saint Louis and UAB coming to Hattiesburg, and Southern Miss goes on the road to face league-foes Houston, South Florida, East Carolina and Charlotte.
The Lady Eagles finished with a 46-21 record last season, collecting their second-consecutive Conference USA tournament title and making their third-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regionals. Southern Miss returns 10 players, and eight were added to the preseason roster.
