Southern Miss
Alabama
Softball Takes Down No. 7 Alabama
2/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
Alabama-Southern Miss Box Score
A two-out, bases loaded RBI single by Jessica Huerta gave Southern Miss a 3-2 come from behind victory over No. 7 Alabama tonight.
With the win, Southern Miss improves to 5-9, while Alabama falls to 9-2.
It is Southern Miss first victory over a ranked team since defeating No. 21 USF 10-9 on March 22, 2003 in Hattiesburg. It was also Southern Miss' first victory over a top-10 team since defeating No. 10 DePaul, 3-0, in Chicago, on April 14, 2001, and the highest defeat of a ranked team since defeating No. 6 Alabama in the Women's College World Series on May 27, 2000, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"This is a big win for us," Head Coach Gay McNutt said. "We really needed a big lift and we got that tonight. I'm proud of our players for the amount of heart they showed tonight, after the way our season started."
Alabama took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Kelly Montalvo walked and advanced to third on a single by Dominique Accetturo, who went to second on the throw. Montalvo then scored on a passed ball and Accetturo went to third, before Allison Moore's RBI groundout made the score 2-0.
The Lady Eagles had a chance to cut into the Crimson Tide lead in the fourth. Allison Bullard singled to start the inning, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Huerta. Following a Ashley Davis groundout, Bullard went to third on a passed ball, but was left stranded, as Kristin Pilgrim flied out to end the threat.
Southern Miss knotted the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Charity Butler singled to start the inning, and following a Alabama pitching change to Chrissy Owens, Bullard was hit by a pitch. Butler and Bullard moved up to third and second base respectively, on a throwing error by Crimson Tide catcher Ashley Holcombe, who threw the ball into center field. Huerta then scored Butler on a RBI single and Bullard scored on a RBI fielder's choice by Davis, as Bullard was safe at home, but Huerta was thrown out at third on the play. But Alabama escaped further damage, as Owens struck out the final two batters to end the inning.
But in the seventh, Southern Miss got the winning run. Ashley Brenan, who did not start tonight because of flu-like symptoms, and pinch hit in the fifth, led off the seventh with a double to right center. Following a sacrifice bunt by Krystal Crooks that got Brenan to third, Melissa Prouty was hit by a pitch. Following an intentional walk to Butler, Bullard struck out, for the second out in the inning. Huerta then connected on a RBI single to left field to win the game, scoring Brenan from third.
Lacey Gros (4-4) got the win for Southern Miss, allowing only four hits and two runs, one earned, walking four and striking out four.
Owens (3-2) took the loss for Alabama, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs, one earned, walking one and striking out three.
Southern Miss returns to action this weekend, as they compete in the Jacksonville University hosted Best Western Invitational. The Lady Eagles will meet Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne at 3:30 on Friday, before facing Jacksonville and Armstrong Atlantic at 10:30 a.m., and 6 p.m, respectively on Saturday. The Lady Eagles then will play at 10:30 a.m. (No. 3 vs. No. 4 see) or 12:30 p.m. (No. 1 vs. No. 2 seed).
