Southern Miss Falls To Houston In Tourney Opener, 5-1
5/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Files associated with this release:
Box Score
Links associated with this release:
C-USA Tournament -- Official Site
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Southern Miss Falls To Houston In Tourney Opener, 5-1
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Southern Miss' start in the 2004 Conference USA Softball Tournament wasn't what it expected as Houston upset the top-seeded Lady Eagles, 5-1, Thursday, here at Louisville's Ulmer Stadium.
The No. 5 Cougars (37-22), who had defeated No. 4 DePaul in the tournament's first game earlier Thursday, reeled off five runs on seven hits and made one error. Southern Miss (32-23) managed just one run on three hits and also made an error.
The Lady Eagles now fall to the loser's bracket, where they will face No. 6 East Carolina at 11 a.m., ET/10 a.m., CT, on Friday. Houston advanced to play No. 3 USF, which topped second-seed Louisville, 1-0.
Houston starter Jamie Falco (6-5) picked up the complete-game win, walking three and striking out four. The Lady Eagles' Jessica Holaway (17-6) took the loss, allowing just three earned runs with two walks and three strikeouts in the complete game.
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Cougars pushed two runs across on two hits and one Southern Miss error. Arelis Ferreris led off with a single and came around to score on a three-base error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Jaci Gonzales, who reached on the error, scored moments later on Kim Nesloney's RBI-single to right field.
Houston tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, courtesy of Ferreris' two-run blast to left center field that also scored pinch runner Brandi Clark, giving the Cougars the 4-0 advantage.
The lead was pushed to five in the top of the sixth inning, when pinch runner Michelle Keith scored on Brooke Johnson's RBI-double.
It wasn't until Sarah Boyd's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth frame that the Lady Eagles got on the board, cutting the deficit to four runs.
That would be all Southern Miss would get though, as neither team scored in the final inning to finish with the 5-1 score.
Boyd led the Lady Eagles with two hits, while Ferreris paced the Cougars with a pair of hits.
C-USA Tournament Schedule/Results:
Thursday, May 13
Game 1 - (5) Houston 3, (4) DePaul -- Final
Game 2 - (3) USF 7, (6) East Carolina 1 -- Final
Game 3 - (5) Houston 5, (1) Southern Miss 1 -- Final
Game 4 - (3) USF 1, (2) Louisville 0 -- Final
Friday, May 14
Game 5 (6) East Carolina vs. (1) Southern Miss -- 11 a.m.
Game 6 (2) Louisville vs. (4) DePaul -- 1:30 p.m.
Game 7 (5) Houston vs. (3) USF -- 4 p.m.
Game 8 Winner of G5 vs. Winner of G6 -- 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 15
Game 9 Loser G7 vs. Winner of G8 -- 11 a.m.
Game 10 Championship -- 2:05 p.m.
All Times are Eastern.