University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Looks Remain Unbeaten Against Houston In Texas
4/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -
Houston-Southern Miss Game Notes
The Southern Miss softball team looks to remain unbeaten against Houston in Texas this weekend, as it faces another crucial Conference USA series.
The game will be broadcast on the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network, by logging onto SouthernMiss.com, with Softball SID Jared Florreich providing the play-by-play action. Live stats will also be available on SouthernMiss.com.
The two schools meet for the 23rd, 24th and 25th time today, as Houston holds an 11-10 overall series advantage. This weekend marks the eighth, ninth and 10th meeting in Houston, with Southern Miss holding a 7-0 advantage. The Lady Eagles swept Houston 3-0 in 2002 and 2004, also defeating the Cougars in the 2003 Conference USA Tournament in Houston.
Southern Miss, under the direction of Head Coach Gay McNutt, enters the game with a 25-27 overall record, 10-5 mark in Conference USA, which ranks second in the league. The Lady Eagles enter the weekend off a 3-2 victory over Southeastern La., on Wednesday, and have won four of their last five games.
As a team, Southern Miss hit .241, with 311 hits, 199 runs, 65 doubles, seven triples, 16 home runs, 162 RBIs, 86 RBIs and 149 walks.
Sophomore Jennifer Fox continues to lead the team in multiple offensive categories, with a .354 batting average, 52 hits, seven home runs, 35 RBIs, .558 slugging percentage and .433 on-base percentage. She ranks in the top-10 in Conference USA in all of those categories.
Senior Charity Butler leads the team and ranks second in Conference USA with 14 doubles, tied for the fourth-best performance in school history and ranks second with 47 hits. Senior Ashley Brenan leads the team with 20 stolen bases, 34 runs and 34 walks, the most in a season in school history. Brenan also ranks in the top-10 in Conference USA in all three categories.
In the circle, the five armed staff has a 3.50 ERA, 24 complete games, five shutouts and two saves. In 348.0 innings of work, it has allowed 349 hits, 219 runs, 174 earned, walked 210, struck out 251, while holding opposing teams to a .260 batting average.
Freshman Lacey Gros leads the team with a 14-12 record and 2.89 ERA. In 169.2 innings pitched, she has allowed 132 hits, 83 runs, 70 earned, walked 119, struck out 161, the fourth most in a season in school history, while holding opposing hitters to a .214 batting average.
Senior Danielle Wymer has a team-best two shutouts, while sophomore Krystal Crooks and freshman Samantha Davis each have single saves on the year.
Houston, under the direction of Head Coach Kyla Holas, enters the weekend with a 28-18 record and 9-6 mark in Conference USA, currently fourth in the league.
As a team, Houston hits .276, with 336 hits, 198 runs, 48 doubles, five triples, 27 home runs, 172 RBIs, 41 stolen bases and 169 walks.
Elaina Nordstrom leads the team with a .348 batting average and 39 RBIs, while Jessica Valis has a team-best 52 hits, 35 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. Laura Durham has a team-best seven home runs and nine doubles on the year.
In the circle, the five armed unit sports a 1.88 ERA, 19 complete games and 11 shutouts. In 321 innings of work, it has allowed 257 hits, 135 runs, 86 earned, walked 137, struck out 315, while holding opposing teams to a .213 batting average.
Angel Shamblin leads the team with a 11-6 record, 1.73 ERA and 11 complete games. In 117.1 innings of work, she has allowed 100 hits, 38 runs, 29 earned, walked 38, struck out 126, while holding opposing hitters to a .223 batting average. Candi Kloecker has a staff-best five shouts and has worked a staff-high 121.0 innings.
Following the Houston series, Southern Miss travels to Jackson State on Tuesday, April 25, in a 5 p.m., contest. The game was a late addition to the 2006 schedule, following the consolidation of the Jacksonville/Best Western Invitational Tournament to a two-day event, instead of three days. That left a date to schedule and play an additional game if necessary.
