University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Softball Tops Southeastern La., 6-5
2/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Files associated with this release:
Box Score
Southern Miss Softball Tops Southeastern La., 6-5
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- After dropping three games on the road last week, the Southern Miss Lady Eagle softball team made its return trip home a good one, defeating Southeastern Louisiana, 6-5, Wednesday at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
The Lady Eagles (2-4) posted a season-high nine hits and took advantage of two Lion errors to pick up the win. Southeastern fell to 3-8 with the loss.
Sarah Boyd and Charity Butler each had a pair of hits to lead Southern Miss, one of which was Boyd's two-run home run in the third inning.
Senior pitcher Danielle Hatfield (2-0) picked up her second win of the season after throwing 3.1 innings in relief. She gave up just three hits in the game and has yet to surrender a run this season. Freshman Jessica Saunier drew the start, allowing five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings for the no-decision.
The Lions jumped out to the early lead in a big way, benefiting from Karin Smith's solo home run in the top of the first. The team then added to the lead with another single run in the second inning, when Amy Ford crossed home on Jamie Militello's sacrifice bunt.
Southern Miss answered, though, with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Boyd led off with a double to center field and advanced to third via Auriel Jenkins' sacrifice bunt. Butler then doubled to center, pushing Boyd across for the first Lady Eagle run. Heather Bell then drew a walk, and Ashley Brenan singled through the right side to score Butler and tie the game 2-2.
The Lady Eagles took their first lead of the game in the next inning, courtesy of Boyd's two-run blast to center field that scored Diane Hammes in the process.
Southeastern battled to take the lead again, though, pushing three runs across on Smith's second homer of the day in the fourth inning.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Southern Miss regained the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Bell opened with a solo shot to left field to tie the game, 5-5. Three batters later, the Lady Eagles had runners on first and second with one out when Southeastern third baseman Sarah Gascon's throw on Ashley Davis' grounder went high over the first baseman, scoring Jessica Huerta from third base for the go-ahead run.
With the lead in hand, Hatfield kept the Lion batters at bay to pick up the victory. Boyd led the Lady Eagles with two RBIs.
For Southeastern, Smith, Becki de la Garza, Lisa Chapman and Michelle Lemons all had two hits.
Southern Miss now takes to the road again, traveling to Baton Rouge, La., to compete in the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge. The Lady Eagles will face Texas-San Antonio, Louisiana Tech, Alcorn State and LSU in the three-day event.
