University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss, DePaul Square Off In Key C-USA Series
4/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Southern Miss, DePaul Square Off In Key C-USA Series HATTIESBURG, Miss. --
The Lady Eagles (24-22, 11-4 in C-USA) and the Blue Demons (20-20-1, 10-5) are both in a tight C-USA race. Louisville currently leads, while nationally-ranked USF is in second. Southern Miss is third overall, one-game ahead of DePaul. The two teams meet in a doubleheader at 1 p.m., Saturday, before competing in a single game at 1 p.m., Sunday. All three games will feature a "Live Stats" broadcast on SouthernMiss.com.
The Lady Eagles enter the series after falling 5-3 to nationally ranked LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Wednesday. Prior to that game, Southern Miss took 2-of-3 from Charlotte last weekend. The Blue Demons have won eight of their last nine, including a 7-0 win over Loyola University on Thursday. The team swept Saint Louis in three-game last weekend. DePaul leads the overall series 12-4.
Senior outfielder Auriel Jenkins continues to pace the Southern Miss offense with a team-best .414 batting average. She also leads in hits (48), runs (33), total bases (72) and is tied with Ashley Brenan in RBIs (22). Jenkins also is second in home runs (6) and has six doubles, while hitting safely in a team-best 10 straight games. Sophomore first baseman Ashley Davis follows Jenkins in both batting (.336) and hits (46), while also ranking third in RBIs (21). Sophomore second baseman Charity Butler is third with a .319 average, while both freshman catcher Sue Logan and sophomore shortstop Jessica Huerta are hitting .299. Huerta, who has a six-game hitting streak of her own, leads the team with seven home runs.
In the circle, senior Jessica Holaway has been strong in recent weeks, improving to a team-best 12-5 record. She also leads the team in ERA (2.57), innings pitched (138.2), saves (2), strikeouts (86) and opposing batting average (.261). Sophomore Danielle Wymer follows with a 6-6 overall record, to go along with a 5.50 ERA and 26 strikeouts. Senior Danielle Hatfield is 4-5 on the year with a 3.89 ERA and 34 strikeouts. Freshman Jessica Saunier holds a 2-6 record, 21 strikeouts and a 7.00 ERA.
Sarah Martz has been a double-threat for DePaul this season. On offense, she leads the team with a .430 batting average, while also leading in runs scored (30) and hits (61). In the circle, Martz has steadily been the top pitcher for the Blue Demons, running her season record to 15-10 overall with a 2.20 ERA in 175.0 innings pitched. She also has 149 strikeouts with 50 walks on the year.
Saskia Roberson and Linda Secka both follow in batting with .397 and .372 averages, respectively. Roberson leads the team in doubles (16), home runs (9) and RBIs (36). Tracie Adix follows in pitching with a 3-7 record and a 3.25 ERA, 28 strikeouts and six walks.
