Lady Eagle Softball Wins Three In Fall Tournament
10/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lady Eagle Softball Wins Three In Fall Tournament
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss Lady Eagle softball team opened the fall season in a big way, winning all three of its games on the opening day of the Southern Miss Fall Tournament, Saturday, at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
The Lady Eagles (3-0 in the fall) combined to rout its opponents, 47-1, in the three games. Southern Miss defeated Southwest Mississippi Community College, 19-0, in the opener. The hosts then knocked off Pearl River Community College, 11-1, and dropped Jones County Junior College, 17-0, in the final game of the day.
"We had a good offensive day, and that is what this team has been missing the last couple of years," fourth-year Head Coach Gay McNutt said. "Granted, we weren't challenged as much as we would have liked, but anytime you can take as many cuts as we did, it will be a productive day."
Southern Miss was productive enough, finishing the day with 49 hits, including 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs.
Diane Hammes led all players with an .857 average, 6-of-7, with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. Ashley Brenan and Sue Logan both followed with .667 averages. Brenan had a team-high eight hits in 12 at bats, including three doubles and a team-best seven RBIs. Logan was 4-of-6 with one triple.
Heather Bell added six hits and four RBIs. Sarah Boyd had five hits and three RBIs, while Auriel Jenkins and Ashley Davis each had four hits. One of Davis' hits was a solo home run. Laura Smith, Jessica Huerta and Charity Butler each had three hits on the day. Jessica Saunier had two hits, and Erica King added one.
On the mound, the Lady Eagles got good work from three starters -- Jessica Holaway (1-0), Danielle Wymer (1-0) and Saunier (1-0). Holaway took the opening game win over SWCC, firing a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one hit batsman. Wymer gave up one run on four hits against PRCC, with one walk and five strikeouts. Saunier shined in her collegiate debut, pitching a perfect, five-inning game with 11 strikeouts against JCJC.
"I can't say enough about our pitching," McNutt said. "We just didn't play as well defensively as we needed to behind Wymer, but overall we did well. This was a good day for us."
The three games are part of Southern Miss' two-day fall tournament, with games taking place at both the Southern Miss Softball Complex and Timberton Park near William Carey's campus.
In other games at the softball complex, West Alabama defeated SWCC, 4-1, and PRCC topped Mississippi Gulf Coast College, 9-7.
The Lady Eagles play three more games on Sunday, facing West Alabama at 9 a.m., Southeastern La. at 3 p.m., and Gulf Coast CC at 7 p.m.