University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Blank Mississippi State, 6-0
3/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Lady Eagles Blank Mississippi State, 6-0
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss scored four runs in the first inning and cruised to a 6-0 victory over visiting Mississippi State, Wednesday, at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
Three of the runs came courtesy of Auriel Jenkins' monster home run to left field, and senior pitcher Jessica Holaway (6-5) scattered four hits in complete game to lead the Lady Eagles (15-17) to the victory. The Bulldogs fell to 20-17 with the loss.
"That was big," Southern Miss Head Coach Gay McNutt said of her team's four-run first inning. "We came out with four runs and that took the wind out of their sails. That is what you have to against a good hitting team like Mississippi State. That also was one of the best games that Jessica Holaway has pitched this season."
After Holaway and company gave up just one hit in the top of the first, the Lady Eagles' offense got to work. Ashley Brenan led off with a single and advanced to second on Jessica Huerta's sacrifice bunt. Diane Hammes followed with a single to center field to score Brenan, stole second and moved to third after Sarah Boyd singled to put to runners on. Then Jenkins came up with her three-run shot, giving the Lady Eagles the commanding 4-0 lead.
Southern Miss tacked on another run in the third inning as Ashley Davis singled Boyd who had reached on a walk. The Lady Eagles added their sixth run in the next frame, when Huerta scored on Boyd's RBI-double to right field.
The Bulldogs put together their best opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Hayle Guess and Meagan O'Nan both reached on infield singles. After another out, Iyhia McMichael drew a walk to load the bases. But Holaway forced reserve first baseman Brandi Watkins into a pop up to catcher Sue Logan, ending the threat.
Holaway and company then held Mississippi State in check, retiring the side in order over the sixth and seventh innings to complete the win.
Logan, Boyd and Davis all led Southern Miss with two hits, while Jenkins picked up the team-high three RBIs.
Holaway gave up just four hits in the complete game win, while also walking one and striking out one.
Stephanie Comeaux (6-4) took the loss for the Bulldogs after giving up three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning. Melissa Massey pitched the final 5.2 innings in relief, finishing with three runs, two earned, on seven hits with one walk and a career-best 10 strikeouts.
Following the midweek game, the Lady Eagles take back to the road for its third C-USA series of the season, facing Houston in a pair of games Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First pitch for both days is set for 1 p.m., CT.
