University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bulldogs Claim 3-1 Win Over Lady Eagles
2/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Bulldogs Claim 3-1 Win Over Lady Eagles
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? The Southern Miss softball team started the season with a 3-1 loss to Mississippi State, today, at the Mississippi State Softball Field. The Bulldogs produced three runs in the second inning to collect the victory.
MSU shortshop Jennifer Jessup went two-for-two with a three-RBI double. Melissa Massey pitched the win for the Bulldogs, giving up four hits, one walk and striking out five.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Jennifer Nelson reached on Erinne Milligan?s fielding error, advancing Brooke Best to second base and Kate Jaspers to third. Jessup came to bat and hit a blooper in front of rightfielder Heather Bell, who was hindered from making the play by the sun. Jaspers, Best and Nelson scored, as Jaspers collected the game-winning double.
The Lady Eagles struggled early offensively, as they went hitless in the first three innings. Auriel Jenkins started the hit production with an infield single in the fourth, advancing Ashley Brenan who reached on a walk. Both runners were left on the basepaths.
?I saw a lot of bright spots and some things that made me happy,? said Southern Miss Head Coach Gay McNutt. ?If we had finished the game the way we started it, I think the outcome would have been much different. We?ve got some things to work on. Overall, I am disappointed with the loss, but some good things did happen.?
Southern Miss came alive in the top of the seventh. Amanda Brown grounded to left field and eventually scored on Sarah Boyd?s single to right. The Lady Eagle bench added some spark as Kim Bishop came in as a pinch runner, and Diane Hammes pinch-hit a single to put two runners on the basepaths. Reserve second basemen Charity Butler ended the game with a ground out to second.
?Our bench was great,? McNutt said. ?Our young kids did a fantastic job, and I think that shows where the future of this ballclub is headed. We?ve got a strong bench, and if they can perform coming off the bench like that then this team is going to look forward to some great things throughout the year.?
Jessica Holaway went the distance for the Lady Eagles. She pitched six innings and gave up five hits and no earned runs. The junior also recorded three walks and six strikeouts.
?Jess started out really shaky,? said McNutt. ?She got behind on some hitters early on, but I think she let some of the errors shake her up. Then, she started to settle down about a midway through the game and did a fantastic job. I thought she pitched well enough to win.?
Southern Miss holds its home opener next week, facing Northwestern (La.) State in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Game one will begin at 5:30 p.m.
