University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Split on Day One of Gator Invitational
2/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Files associated with this release:
Lady Eagles Split on Day One of Gator Invitational
Heather Bell smashed her first home run of the season, a two-run blast, in the Lady Eagles' 2-1 win over Birmingham Southern. |
The Lady Eagles (3-2) held a 1-0 lead over UTC (2-6), heading into the bottom of the sixth, but the bats came alive for the Lady Mocs who scored five runs on five hits and one error in the frame. With two outs, Lindsey Brown doubled to centerfield and scored Melissa Ramirez and Grace Pickett to give Chattanooga a 2-1 lead.
The runs continued, as Jennifer Reed singled to left, allowing Brown to come home. Paige Cochran singled, Leslie Barron, then, reached on Jessica Huerta?s fielding error at second, and Reed crossed the plate on the miscue. Teri Herbert?s single to left added another insurance run, scoring Cochran and giving UTC the 5-1 lead.
Auriel Jenkins gave the Lady Eagles a 1-0 advantage in the fifth inning on her single to center field, which caused Melanie Hymel to score from second. Jenkins ended the second game, batting 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Southern Miss pitcher Danielle Wymer (1-1) gave up two hits prior to the sixth inning. She retired nine-consecutive batters before surrendering her second hit in the fourth. The freshman gave up seven hits, two walks and three earned runs, while striking out three in her second performance in the circle.
Sara Meek (2-2) came in relief of UTC starting pitcher Awbrey Winckler and picked up the win. She pitched 2.2 scoreless innings to record a one-hitter with a strikeout.
In the game against Birmingham Southern (3-2), Heather Bell provided the drama in the bottom of the seventh, smashing a two-run home run over the right-center field fence. Facing an 0-1 count with two outs, the junior recorded her first homer of the season, as well as her first hit of the year, and scored Ashley Brenan on the game-winning walk-off shot.
The Panthers went up 1-0, in the top of the third, when Nikki Rombough doubled to left and scored Lacey Barth. This is the third time this season that the Lady Eagles came from behind to claim this victory.
Jessica Holaway (2-1) picked up her second win of the season. She went the distance and recorded five hits, four strikeouts and one walk.
Kristina Villavicenci fell to 1-1, pitching the complete game for the Panthers and recording seven hits, three strikeouts and three walks.
Southern Miss will face tourney-host Florida tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 15, at 12:30 p.m. (Central Standard Time). The game will have Live Stats featured on SouthernMiss.com.
The game against the Gators will end round-robin play of the tournament, setting up bracket play, with the No. 1 seed playing the No. 4 seed at 3 p.m., and the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds playing at 5:30 p.m. The consolation game of the tournament will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m., and the championship game will follow at 12:30 p.m.
