University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Host Midweek Doubleheaders
3/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Game Notes
Lady Eagles Host Midweek Doubleheaders
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- After playing the last 10 games on the road, the Southern Miss Lady Eagle softball team looks forward to its return to Hattiesburg, hosting a pair of midweek doubleheaders against McNeese State and Alabama State.
The Lady Eagles (5-11) take on the 8-13 Cowgirls at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively on Wednesday. The team then battles the Hornets (2-12) at 5 and 7 p.m., Thursday, in games that were originally scheduled to start one hour later. All four games will feature an Internet "Live Stats" broadcast that can be accessed on the softball page on SouthernMiss.com.
Southern Miss leads the all-time series against McNeese, 13-3, including a pair of wins last season. This marks the first meeting against Alabama State, which is coached by former Southern Miss player Jennifer Collins.
Senior Heather Bell headlines the Lady Eagle offense with a team-best .310 batting average and nine runs scored. Senior Auriel Jenkins follows with a .290 average, while junior Diane Hammes is third with a .275 average. Sophomore Ashley Brenan leads all players with 12 hits and seven RBIs, with Hammes and Ashley Davis following with 11 hits apiece. Hammes and senior Sarah Boyd, the team's home run leader with three, both have six RBIs on the year.
In the circle, senior Danielle Hatfield is tops with a 4.42 ERA and a 3-2 mark with 21 strikeouts in 31.2 innings of work. Fellow senior Jessica Holaway (2-3) has a 5.53 ERA and a team-best 24 strikeouts in 38 innings.
McNeese State enters the series on a three-game win streak after defeating 10th-ranked Louisiana Lafayette in the championship game of the Cowgirl Classic last week in Lake Charles, La. Karissa Wapler leads with a .275 batting average and is second with 14 hits this year. Nicole Edlund has a team-high 15 hits, while Sarah Holt enters the game with a team-high eight RBIs. Corrie Hale is 2-4 on the season with 62 strikeouts and a 3.84 ERA, while Jessica Denham holds a 3-5 mark and a 1.94 ERA with 28 strikeouts.
Alabama State is coming off a three-game skid against Belmont University. Megan Karcher leads the Hornets with eight appearances this season, but holds a 1-7 mark in those games. Offensively, third baseman Tara Patterson led the team in hits last week.
Following the two doubleheaders, Southern Miss remains at home as it opens Conference USA play this weekend against Saint Louis.
