Southern Miss
Southeastern La.
Softball Wins Final Home Non-Conference Game, 3-2
4/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
Southeastern La.-Southern Miss Box Score
The Southern Miss softball team won its final, home non-conference game of the season today, defeating Southeastern La., 3-2, before 502, the 13th best crowd at the Southern Miss Softball Complex and the third largest home crowd of the season.
With the win, Southern Miss improves to 25-27 overall, while Southeastern La., falls to 10-29.
The Lady Lions got an opening run in the first inning, as with the bases loaded and two outs, a RBI single by Rebecca De La Garza scored Michelle Lemons, who walked with one out. But the Lady Lions did not do any further damage, as Lady Eagle starter Samantha Davis got Katie Szmergalski to ground out to end the inning.
Southern Miss proceeded to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, but did not get any runs across.
Southeastern La., took a 2-0 lead in the fourth, again loading the bases, this time with one out. After Lemons reached on a fielder's choice that forced Lauren Winkler out at home, a throwing error by Lady Eagle catcher Kristin Pilgrim down to third base allowed Jenaye Zeringue to come home.
Southern Miss cut the Southeastern lead to 2-1 in the fourth, as the Lady Lions switched pitchers to Jessica Sander to start the frame. The Lady Eagles immediately took advantage, getting back-to-back singles by Jennifer Fox and Ashley Davis. After a fly out to center by Allison Bullard that advanced both Fox and Davis to third and second respectively, a RBI sacrifice fly to right by Pilgrim scored Fox, but Davis was thrown out at third advancing on the play, to end the inning.
The Lady Lions loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but Lady Eagle pitcher Lacey Gros, who entered the game in relief of Davis in the third, escaped damage, striking out Szmergalski and Zeringue, in between a fielder's choice by Brooke Lockhart, which forced Amy Ford out at home, keeping the game at 2-1.
Southern Miss got its game-winning runs in the fifth, as with two outs, Ashley Brenan doubled to right center, scoring Charity Butler, who reached on a fielder's choice. Brenan then scored on a RBI double by Huerta to left center, giving the Lady Eagles their winning margin.
Gros struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.
Pilgrim finished with two hits to lead Southern Miss.
Gros (14-12) got the win, pitching five innings in relief, allowing three hits and one run, walking four and striking out seven.
Sander (0-11) took the loss, lasting 1.2 innings, allowing five hits, three runs, all earned.
Southern Miss returns to action this weekend at Houston, in an important Conference USA series. Game times are set for 1 and 3 p.m., on Saturday, with the series finale at 1 p.m., on Sunday.
