University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Lady Eagles Take Sunday Finale, 8-3, Sweep East Carolina
5/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Files associated with this release:
Box Score
Lady Eagles Take Sunday Finale, 8-3, Sweep East Carolina
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Southern Miss rallied for seven runs over the final three innings to take the three-game Conference USA series finale, Sunday, 8-3 and complete the sweep over host East Carolina at the ECU Softball Field.
The Lady Eagles (29-22, 16-4 C-USA) scored eight runs on nine hits, including home runs by Sarah Boyd and Heather Bell, and committed one error to pick up the win. The Pirates (44-19-1, 8-13) managed three runs on six hits and made four errors.
Senior pitcher Jessica Holaway (15-5) picked up her second victory of the weekend, walking one and striking out six in the complete-game performance. East Carolina's Maggie Lingo (15-5) took the loss and had just one strikeout.
Boyd paced the Lady Eagles with two hits and three RBIs, including a double and a single, while Diane Hammes finished with three runs scored.
Southern Miss opened with a single run in the top of the first, when Hammes crossed on an error to give the Lady Eagles the 1-0 lead.
That lead was short-lived, however, as the Pirates plated three runs, two unearned, in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of three hits and one Southern Miss error.
The scored held until the top of the fifth inning, when Charity Butler's RBI-single scored pinch runner Melissa Prouty from third, cutting the deficit to one run.
Southern Miss then took control of the game with three runs each in the sixth and seventh innings, highlighted by Bell's solo shot and Boyd's two run blast in the final inning.
In addition to the two home runs, the Lady Eagles reeled off three doubles -- one each by Hammes, Boyd and Auriel Jenkins.
Lacassa Hill had two hits to lead East Carolina, while Lara Brickhouse had a pair of RBIs.
Southern Miss now returns to Hattiesburg for its final C-USA series of the regular season, hosting Louisville next weekend, May 8-9, at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
