University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Travels to Compete Against In-State Rival Mississippi State
4/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 9, 2007
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team travels to Starkville, Miss., to compete in a 5 p.m., midweek contest with in-state rival Mississippi State on Thursday, April 12.
This week's game marks the 35th meeting between the two teams since first meeting in 1983. The Lady Bulldogs own a 24-10 advantage over the Lady Eagles, taking an 8-0 victory in the last meeting.
Southern Miss (14-26, 5-6 C-USA) enters the game after sweeping C-USA opponent Marshall last weekend, 2-1, 12-9 and 7-1. Throughout the series, the Lady Eagles recorded five home runs, two from freshman Megan Hill and one each from freshmen Brandi Alonzo and Logan James and junior Jennifer Fox. With the three conference wins, Southern Miss moved up in the conference standings, now sitting at No. 6.
Mississippi State (26-17, 9-8 SEC) is coming off of a series win over in-state and SEC rival Ole Miss, taking Saturday's doubleheader, 8-0 and 7-4. The Lady Bulldogs fell to the Lady Rebels, 3-2, on Friday, after being shutout in a midweek contest against Samford, 3-0.
The Lady Eagles are hitting .230 with 39 doubles, seven triples and 32 home runs. They are averaging 4.02 runs per game and 5.6 hits her game. The pitching staff has a 4.55 ERA in 254.0 innings pitched, struck out 92 batters, walked 163 and holding opponents to a .296 batting average.
Mississippi State is hitting .290 with 42 doubles, 12 triples and 12 home runs. They are averaging 4.76 runs per game and 7.67 hits per game. The pitching staff has a 2.17 ERA in 286.0 innings, struck out 161 batters, walked 63 and holding opponents to a .241 batting average.
Freshman designated hitter Megan Hill leads the Lady Eagles' offense with a .363 batting average and is leading the team in doubles (9), triples (4), home runs (11), RBIs (33) and runs (31). Hill has been walked a total of 17 times, two intentional, and has stolen four bases. Freshman outfielder Brandi Alonzo is hitting .330 with four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 20 RBIs, five walks and a team-leading eight stolen bases. Freshman first baseman Logan James is hitting .274 with seven doubles, eight home runs, 19 RBIs and ten walks.
Chelsea Bramlett leads the Lady Bulldog's offense, hitting .421 with eight doubles, one home run, 15 RBIs, 11 walks and 39 stolen bases. Bramlett is followed by Nakita Boyce and Courtney Bures. Boyce is currently hitting .344 with four doubles, six triples, 19 RBIs, 13 walks and 15 stolen bases, while Bures has a .341 batting average with seven doubles, two triples, 39 RBIs, 10 walks and eight stolen bases.
On the mound, Southern Miss is led by sophomore pitcher Samantha Davis. Davis is 3-8 with a 2.55 ERA in 74.0 innings, giving up 41 runs, 27 earned, on 84 hits, striking out 28, walking 31 and holding opponents to a .279 batting average. She recorded two wins over Marshall last weekend, throwing 11 innings, striking out three, walked two and allowed four runs.
Mississippi State's defense is fronted by Kelli Miller, who has recorded an 11-7 record with a 1.37 ERA in 96.2 innings. Miller has given up 36 runs, 23 earned, on 90 hits, striking out 50, walking 20 and holding opponents to a .234 batting average.
Following the midweek contest, Southern Miss is set to host C-USA rival UTEP in a three-game weekend series. Play will begin on Saturday, April 14, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday's action has been changed to a noon competition, instead of the originally-scheduled 1 p.m. start time.
