Softball Wins Big On Senior Day, 12-4

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Softball Wins Big On Senior Day, 12-4

Jessica Huerta led Southern Miss with four RBI today.

Krystal Crooks earned her 14th win of the season today, pitching her 18th complete game of the season. Crooks also had three RBI today.

Ashley Brenan had three hits today for Southern Miss.

Senior Diane Hammes played her final home game as a Lady Eagle today, finishing with two hits, an RBI and one run scored.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.? The Southern Miss softball team made senior day a special one for lone senior Diane Hammes, as the Lady Eagles scored 10 runs in the fourth inning, cruising to a run-rule 12-4 victory in six innings.

The 10 runs in an inning were the second most this season, as the team scored 11 in the third inning of game two against Jackson State on Feb. 5. Southern Miss also finished with 16 hits today, tying its second highest total of the season, also in game two against Jackson State.

With the win, Southern Miss ends the regular season with a 28-30 overall record, 9-14 mark in Conference USA, while East Carolina falls to 55-17, 17-7. Southern Miss has now defeated East Carolina in 11 of 12 regular season meetings.

East Carolina took a 4-0 lead in the first. With one out, Kate Manuse doubled and advanced to third on a passed ball. Mandi Nichols was hit by a pitch and Leigh Savoy walked to load the bases. Paige Bagget then hit a fielder?s choice, with Manuse out at home. Erin St. Ledger then had a RBI fielder?s choice and Monce had a RBI single that scored Nichols. Alison Monce then followed with a two RBI single, making the score 4-0.

Southern Miss made the score 4-1 in the third. Ashley Brenan led off the inning with a single, stole second and sent to third on a groundout by Melissa Prouty. Fox then brought Brenan home with a RBI single to center field.

In the fourth, the team exploded for 10 runs. Ashley Davis led off the inning with a double, and after Charity Butler reached on a fielding error, Allison Bulard singled, loading the bases. Krystal Crooks then reached on a fielder?s choice, and Davis scored on a throwing error by Lady Pirate third baseman Ashley Quick. Ashley Brenan, Hammes and Melissa Prouty then connected on RBI singles, scoring Butler, Bullard and pinch runner Danielle Martin, taking a 5-4 lead. With the bases still loaded, Jessica Huerta cleared them with a three-RBI double to center field. Jennifer Fox then singled, advancing Huerta to third, who then scored on a RBI single by Davis. The team got its final two runs of the inning on a RBI fielder?s choice by Crooks and RBI double by Brenan, Southern Miss took a 11-2 lead.

From there, Crooks, who gave up four runs and three East Carolina hits in the first inning, allowed only four Lady Pirate hits the remainder of the game, as East Carolina did not have a runner advance past second base for the rest of the game.

Southern Miss finished the run-rule win on a RBI single by Crooks that scored Bullard, who doubled off the left field wall with two outs.

Crooks (14-11) got the win for Southern Miss, pitching six innings, allowing seven hits, four runs, walking two and striking out two, in tossing her 18^th complete game of the season.

Stephanie Hayes (13-4) took the loss for East Carolina, allowing 16 hits, 12 runs, 10 earned, walking one.

On the day, Brenan had three hits, while Hammes, Huerta, Fox, Davis and Bullard each had two. Huerta had a team-high four RBI, while Crooks had three.

Southern Miss will be the sixth seed in next week?s Conference USA Tournament (5/12-14) in Tampa, Fla. The team will face East Carolina in first game for both teams in the tournament, at a yet to be determined time. Live stats will be available in the tournament.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Softball Wins Big On Senior Day, 12-4

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