Southern Miss
Marshall
Softball Team Splits Doubleheader Against Marshall
4/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 19, 2008
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team split a doubleheader with Marshall Saturday, taking game one, 2-1, in a come-from-behind effort, then dropped game two, 6-0.
The Lady Eagles (23-23, 7-10) pulled out a 2-1 win in the bottom of the seventh inning when Brandi Alzono, pinching hitting for Ashlyn Harmon, reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman. Allison Bullard followed with a bunt single, advancing Alzono to second. Megan Hill then hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Alonzo out at third. Kristin Chaney then delivered a 0-2 pitch to right field for a single, plating Bullard to tie the game and sending Hill to third. Chaney stole second, putting runners on second and third with one out. Caitlyn Jackson (10-15) stuck out Kristin Pilgrim. Logan James then hit a ball to third, but Marcena Bertoldo could not field it cleanly, sending Hill home for the winning run.
"It was good to come out a get a win in the first game," head coach Howard Dobson said. "We had several opportunities to put some runs on the board, but we didn't take advantage. Sam did a nice job of keeping us in the game until we were able to get those runs."
Samantha Davis (13-7) got the win, scattering six hits and striking out six batters. The one run came in the first inning on a solo home run by Samantha Rodriguez. Jackson took the loss for the Herd.
Marshall (21-26, 8-9) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first when Rodriguez sent a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall. Over the last six innings, Davis gave up five hits.
In game two, Marshall put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, then added one in the second and seventh, for a 6-0 win over Southern Miss.
Hannah Griffin (3-2), who worked only 0.1 innings, was credited with the loss, while Autumn Mitchell (9-4) got the win, allowing only four hits in shutting out the Lady Eagles.
Rachel Folden reached base on a walk, then Rodriguez blasted her second home run of the day over the left field fence. Jackson singled then advance to second on an illegal pitch. One batter later, Melanie Stoeher hit a double to right center to score Jackson. Meghan Harbuck came on to pitch for Griffin. Kelly Nielson then singled, scoring Stoeher for the final run of the inning.
Folden added another run for the Herd when she sent her 15th home run of the season over the center field wall.
Mitchell kept the Southern Miss bats silenced for the better part of the game. When the Lady Eagles did put runners on, the Herd defense stepped up, recording back-to-back inning ending double plays.
"We have to do a better job of making adjustments and sticking with our game plan," Dobson said. "Harbuck didn't pitch a bad game. She gave us a chance to get back in the game, but we just didn't make the adjustments we needed to make."
Pilgrim finished the day with a 4-for-5 plate appearance with Lauren Castellvi and Chaney each recording two hits.
Rodriguez had a big day for the Herd with two homers and two doubles, finishing the day with a five hits.
Both teams will be in action for the final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for noon at the USM Softball Complex.
