Softball Splits Conference USA Opening Doubleheader

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Charlotte-Southern Miss Game 1 Box
Charlotte-Southern Miss Game 2 Box

Softball Splits Conference USA Opening Doubleheader

Krystal Crooks pitched her seventh complete game in as many starts today in game two against Charlotte, also recording her third career shutout.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.? The Southern Miss softball team split a doubleheader against Charlotte, Saturday, as Conference

USA

action began for both teams.

Charlotte won the first game 5-4, for its first ever win in Hattiesburg, before Southern Miss rebounded in game two, winning 6-0.

With the split, Southern Miss improves to 11-9, 1-1 in Conference USA, while Charlotte improves to 8-9-1, 1-1 on the season.

Southern Miss got off to a quick start in the first game, on a three run home run from Ashley Davis that cleared the scoreborad in left center field, her third of the season, which leads the team.

The Lady 49ers made the score 3-1 in the fourth, as Lauren Schmitz scored on a throwing error by Charity Butler.

The Lady Eagles got that run back in the fifth, on a RBI single from Diane Hammes that scored Jessica Huerta, on base with her team leading third triple of the season.

But Charlotte made the score 4-2 in the sixth, on a RBI single from Kaycie Jones.

The visitors then added three more runs in the seventh inning to take the victory. Karianne Huffstetler led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. Following a pop out to third from Laurie Roycroft, Becky Holt reached base, after she was also hit with a pitch. Evan Miller then reached on an error which scored Huffstetler. Following a pitching change to Krystal Crooks, Holt scored on a wild pitch which tied the game at 4-4. Schmitz then had an RBI sacrifice fly that scored Miler for the game winning run.

Kristen Bowen (6-3) got the win for Charlotte, pitching seven innings, scattering five hits and four runs, three earned, walking four and striking out seven. Danielle Wymer (2-5) took the loss for Southern Miss, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, five runs, two earned, walking one and striking out four.

In the second game, Crooks (8-1), pitched her seventh complete game in as many starts, as she recorded her third shutout of the season and career, as the Lady Eagles rebounded, 6-0. She scattered seven hits and walked one, as she won her first career Conference USA start.

Charlotte loaded the bases in the top of the first, but were unable to get any runs, as Schmitz was thrown out by Ashley Brenan at home plate on a fielder?s choice by J.J. McVay, while Jamie West popped out to Butler to end the inning.

Southern Miss took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the inning, on a RBI double by Davis that scored Huerta, on base with a single.

The Lady Eagles added two more runs in the third, on a RBI walk from Jennifer Fox and a RBI hit by a pitch from Melissa Prouty.

The Lady Eagles made the score 6-0 in the fifth. Davis led off the inning with a double to center field, and scored on a RBI single from Ashley Autman. With the bases loaded, a RBI single from Sue Logan scored Butler, who was on base with a single. With the bases still loaded, Huerta hit a RBI sacrifice fly to left field that scored Prouty, on base after being hit by a pitch.

On the day, Davis finished with four hits, including three doubles, four RBIs, scored three runs and walked once. Huerta had three hits, including a triple and scored three runs. Butler finished with three hits, while Hammes and Autman each had two hits.

Sunday?s series finale between the two teams is set for 1 p.m., at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. Live stats will be available.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Softball Splits Conference USA Opening Doubleheader

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