University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Go To Alabama
4/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Lady Eagles Go To Alabama
The Southern Miss softball team takes on its fourth SEC team in less than a month, as the Lady Eagles (22-21) face No. 15 Alabama (33-13) in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in a single game on Wednesday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Southern Miss is coming off winning its third Conference USA series on the year, taking two-of-three games against Louisville last weekend. Alabama lost two of three against No. 5 LSU.
The Lady Eagles won the only previous meeting against the Crimson Tide, 3-0. The teams met in the 2000 Women?s College World Series, and Southern Miss defeated Alabama to advance to the semifinals, losing to eventual national runner-up UCLA.
Alabama has overcome a rough season start. The Tide lost their first three games to No. 2 Arizona and experienced four loses during a six-game span. They have since strung together a six-game winning streak and a recent 15-game winning streak before losing two over the weekend to the Tigers.
With a team batting average of .303, Alabama features a tough hitting squad with Jackie McClain stroking .410 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs, all team bests.
All-American pitcher Shelley Laird is 18-7 on the year with a 1.48 ERA and 207 strikeouts. In her 30 appearances, she has recorded six shutouts and only 38 walks.
Amanda Brown is batting .284 for the Lady Eagles. She claims 17 runs scored and 15 RBIs. Kenya Peters is hitting .280 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.
Jessica Holaway is coming off pitching a 10-inning shutout last Sunday. The sophomore improved her record to 10-7, claiming a 2.05 ERA and 94 strikeouts.
Southern Miss will travel to Greenville, N.C., this weekend, for a three-game series against East Carolina.
