University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
South Dakota St.
Golden Eagle Softball Splits Saturday Games at Desert Classic
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2009
LAS VEGAS - Ashley Razey lined a ninth-inning, game-winning single into centerfield to lead Southern Miss over South Dakota State 9-8 in its second game of the day at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic here Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (4-5) lost to BYU earlier in the day, 10-4.
Razey and Megan Hill led Southern Miss with three hits each of the 13 posted by the team in the victory. Hill notched a double, triple and third home run of the season. Kristin Pilgrim and Lauren Castellvi added two hits apiece, while the duo along with Hill drove in a pair of runs in the contest.
With the score tied at eight heading into the ninth and a runner placed on second, Courtney Ramos entered the game in the circle and got two fly outs and a groundout to keep SDSU scoreless in the final frame.
Pilgrim was placed at second to start the bottom of the ninth and Hill was promptly intentionally walked. After a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Castellvi hit a ball to second that Pilgrim tried to score on but was cut down at the plate.
That didn't matter as Razey drove in her only run of the affair with a shot to centerfield for the game-winner, scoring Hill.
The game started quickly for Southern Miss as Pilgrim tallied her second home run of the year in the first. USM starting pitcher Lana Vaughn held the Jackrabbits in check through the first three-plus innings. After a walk to open the game, Vaughn retired 10 in a row before SDSU exploded for four runs on three hits and two Golden Eagle errors.
Castellvi cut the margin to 4-2 in their half of the frame on a single to score Hill, who tripled.
After SDSU notched another run, Southern Miss came right back with three to tie the game at 5-5, in the bottom of the fifth. Pilgrim and Hill each tallied RBI doubles in the inning and Logan James followed with a run-scoring single.
The Jackrabbits tallied a score in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead, and Southern Miss had to go to its final out before Hill lofted a solo home run to right to send the game into extra innings.
Southern Miss then answered two runs by SDSU in the eighth with two more of its own. Castellvi doubled in the runner that was placed at second base and pinch hitter Courtney Hill doubled to center to score the tying run and send the game to the ninth.
Ramos went a perfect ninth to get the victory for Southern Miss in relief of Vaughn, who allowed eight runs (four earned) on eight hits and six walks with three strikeouts.
In the opener, BYU belted out 14 hits including three home runs to beat the Golden Eagles, including a three-run shot in the first. The Cougars added a four-run fourth and second in five of seven innings.
Southern Miss managed four hits as Brittney Jones, Megan Hill and Castellvi all drove in runs in the contest.
USM starter Samantha Davis (0-3) surrendered seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts to suffer the loss.
The tournament concludes for the Golden Eagles Sunday at 11 a.m., CT., when they take on Oregon.
