Southern Miss
Florida State (FSU Tournament)
Softball Opens Season By Spliting Pair of Games
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 8, 2008
Results
Game One vs. Troy in PDF Format 
Game Two vs. FSU in PDF Format
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Southern Miss coach Howard Dobson made his debut and his team responded with a 4-1 victory over Troy in the first game of the Early Bird Tournament here Friday. The Lady Eagles lost the afternoon contest to host Florida State, 11-3.
"It's nice to see that we came out and attacked," Dobson said. That was the one thing we wanted to concentrate on, which was to make sure we set the tempo early, from pitching to offense. Early on, we were going a little too fast and we had to calm ourselves down and keep everything in perspective on what we were trying to accomplish.
Junior catcher Kristin Pilgrim led the way for Southern Miss going 2-for-2 with a single and triple and scoring a run. Senior Jennifer Fox also had two hits.
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, until Megan Hill reached base with a walk. Fox then followed with a single through the right side, but Hill was out as the ball hit her as she was advancing to second. Pilgrim then laced a triple to right center, plating Fox. Logan James followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Pilgrim.
Troy responded in the bottom of the inning, when Jessica Lyle singled up the middle for their first hit of the game. Tanya McLean reached base with a walk and Cassie Lassiter singled to left field to score Lyle. The inning ended with McLean getting in a run down.
Southern Miss came right back to add two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Kristin Chaney led off with a bunt single. Holly Milner lined out to third base before Allison Bullard singled to left field. The Eagles loaded the bases on an infield hit by Hill. Fox then hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Chaney, but all the runners were safe after a Troy error. Pilgrim then delivered her second hit of day to score Bullard.
Lana Vaughn then went to work, retiring six next of the next seven batters. Troy threatened in the bottom of the seventh when Lassiter got hit by a pitch and Katie Taber reached base with a walk. Rocky Paige then lined out to right field and Monica Hatcher grounded out to the shortstop to end the game.
"Lana Vaughn threw a good game," said Dobson. "It's her first one out and she had a little bit of freshman nerves and jitters. She had a couple of walks in the first inning, but got herself out and didn't walk another one until the seventh inning. It was nice to see whenever we scored, she responded."
Vaughn (1-0) got the win, while Hattiesburg, Miss., native Ashlyn Williams (0-1) got the loss for the Trojans.
Florida State scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, on its way to an 11-3 win over Southern Miss in the afternoon.
"We came back after the first win and played a little scared," said Dobson. "We put ourselves in a four-run hole. Sam (Davis) was throwing well enough, we just kind of fell apart. I attribute that to playing scared, maybe a little nervous or jitters, plus we are trying to build ourselves. We have to do a better job of coming and setting the tempo."
Southern Miss got its first run in the third inning, when Milner reached base after being hit by a pitch. Krystle Dawson came on to run for Milner. Bullard, then, put a shot down the right field line for a triple and scoring Dawson.
FSU added four more runs in the fifth on four hits, including a three-run home run by Collins.
"Sam did settle down and didn't give up another hit until fifth inning," Dobson said. "We were one swing away from tying the game. Granted, their pitcher threw well against us, but we were still one swing away from tying the game."
The Lady Eagles responded in the top of the sixth, scoring two run. Sarah Hamilton came on to pitch and walked the first three batters. Pilgrim delivered a single to right field, plating Bullard and Hill.
FSU added its final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Southern Miss returns to action Saturday, facing Louisville in a 9 a.m. CT game.
