University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Set To Open Season Saturday
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Softball Set To Open Season Saturday
HATTIESBURG,
This will be the third and fourth meeting between the two schools, with Southern Miss holding a 2-0 series edge. The Lady Eagles swept the previous meeting, a doubleheader, 8-0 and 9-1, in 2003.
?We?re excited to get our season started,? Southern Miss Head Softball Coach and 2004 Conference
The Lady Eagles, the defending Conference USA regular-season champions, return six position starters and two pitchers from last year?s team that finished 33-26 overall, 19-4 in league play and advanced to the NCAA Region 7 Tournament hosted by Stanford. Southern Miss also welcomes five new players to the fold in 2005, including four freshmen and one junior college transfer.
The entire infield returns, led by junior first baseman Ashley Davis, a 2005 preseason All-Conference USA selection.
Junior Jessica Huerta, a 2004 All-Conference USA selection, will be the starter at shortstop again this season, after making 59 starts at the position in 2004. Huerta returns with the most home runs (8) and runs scored (35) and ranks second on the team in RBIs (27) and the third-highest batting average (.295).
Junior Ashley Brenan has started all 117 games of her career at third base. She recorded 14 doubles in 2004, a team-high that was also the fifth best season performance in school history. The Spring,
Junior Charity Butler will be the team?s starting second baseman again this season, after making 58 starts at the position in 2004.
Sue Logan, named to Conference
Diane Hammes is the team?s lone senior and moves to center field this season after starting 57 games in left last year. Hammes returns with the second-most doubles (11), hits (53) and stolen bases (14).
Joining Hammes in the outfield will be freshman Allison Bullard in left field and sophomore Melissa Prouty in right. Prouty joined the team as a walk-on during last season and played in 27 games, primarily as a pinch runner.
Junior Danielle Wymer is the team?s top returning pitcher, posting a 9-8 mark and 5.38 ERA in 2004. Wymer threw eight complete games, including one for a shutout, in 91 innings of work. She also struck out 35 batters.
Sophomore Jessica Saunier joins Wymer in the pitching rotation this season. Saunier finished her freshman season with a 2-6 record and made nine starts. She threw the team?s lone no-hitter last season against
Also joining the staff is freshman Krystal Crooks, from
Freshman Jennifer Fox will be the team?s designated player in 2005, while freshman Ashley Autman adds depth in the outfield.
The Lady Tigers welcome back five letterwinners and five starters from last year?s squad that finished 9-28, including senior third baseman/shortstop Danielle Ross, who returns with the team?s highest batting average (.352). Ross also returns a team-best 27 RBIs, nine doubles and 37 hits. Junior first baseman Heather Shove returns with a team-high eight home runs and 41 runs scored. Shove is also the team?s top returning pitcher, with a 8.12 ERA. She finished with a 4-12 record in 2004, threw 16 complete games, including one shutout, while striking out 52 in 91.1 innings pitched.
The Lady Eagles are teaming with the American Heart Association for ?Go Red? day on Saturday?s game against
Following Saturday?s game, Southern Miss will return to action Wednesday, Feb. 9, hosting Louisiana-Monroe in a doubleheader. Game times are set for 3 and 5 p.m.
