Southern Miss
Central Michigan at University of Florida Tournament
Softball Splits Again At Gator Invitational
3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 4, 2006
Central Michigan-Southern Miss Box Score
Florida-Southern Miss Box Score
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Southern Miss softball team split a pair of games for the second consecutive day at the Gator Invitational today, defeating Central Michigan 8-5 in nine innings, before falling to tournament host Florida, 4-1.
With the split, Southern Miss stands 12-13 on the season.
In the first game, sophomore Krystal Crooks, who started for the first time of the season, allowed three Central Michigan runs to cross in the top of the first, as Amy Hudson connected on a RBI triple, before she scored on a two-RBI double by Stephanie Crews.
Southern Miss got a run back in the second, as Ashley Davis singled to start the inning, went to second on a wild pitch, before scoring on a double by Jennifer Fox, making the score 3-1.
Central Michigan extended its lead out to 4-1 in the third, on a RBI hit by Crews, that scored pinch runner Chivon Kloepfer.
But Southern Miss rallied again, knotting the game at 4-4 in the sixth. Ashley Brenan walked to start the inning, and went to second on a bloop single to center by Jessica Huerta. Both players then scored on a two-RBI double by Ashley Davis, who tied Sarah Boyd for the school's all-time record in doubles with 36. Following a pitching change to Ali Petit, Seton Hall got two outs, before a RBI single through the right side scored Davis to tie the game.
In the eighth, Southern Miss got the bases loaded with only one out, as Davis and Jennifer Fox were both intentionally walked. But the Lady Eagles did not get the game-winning run across, as Petit got the final two outs to escape damage.
Central Michigan got the go ahead run in the top of the ninth, as with the tiebreaker rule in effect, a RBI groundout by pinch hitter Allie Hansen scored Brittany Decker.
In the ninth, with Kristin Pilgrim at second base due to the tiebreaker rule, Melissa Prouty singled to center with one out, before Charity Butler was intentionally walked to load the bases. But Brenan then followed with a towering grand slam to center for her second home run of the season, giving the Lady Eagles an 8-5 victory.
Lacey Gros (8-7) got the win for Southern Miss, allowing one run, while walking four. Samantha Davis pitched 4.2 innings in relief of Crooks, allowing only one hit, while striking out two. In her first start of 2006, Crooks lasted 2.1 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, walking one and striking out one.
Petit (0-1) took the loss for Central Michigan, allowing three hits and four runs, walking three.
Davis finished with three hits in game one for Southern Miss.
Against Florida, the Lady Gators scored single runs in the first and third innings, thanks to RBI singles by Kristen Butler and Lacy Howard.
Southern Miss had chances to cut into Florida's lead early, but Fox was stranded at third base in the second, after leading off with a double, before being caught stealing in the fourth inning, after starting the inning with a double.
Florida made the score 4-0 in the sixth, as Butler had an RBI single, before Howard walked to score a run. The Lady Gators had the bases loaded in the inning, but left the bases loaded with a chance to put the game out of reach.
Southern Miss got its lone run in the bottom of the sixth, as an RBI single by Pilgrim plated Fox, on base with a fielder's choice. But with the game tying run at the plate, the Lady Eagles would leave two runners stranded, as the Lady Gators got the victory.
Stacey Stevens (6-1) got the win for Florida, allowing eight hits and one run, walking one and striking out eight.
Shea Naramore (0-3) took the tough luck loss, allowing eight hits and three runs, one earned, walking two and striking out three.
Fox and Bullard each had two hits against Florida to lead Southern Miss.
Southern Miss closes out play in the Gator Invitational on Sunday, facing Seton Hall at 8 a.m., central time, before meeting Florida at 12:30 p.m., central time.
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