Southern Miss
Nicholls State
Southern Miss Softball Team Shuts Out Nicholls, 2-0
3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Freshman Courtney Ramos pitched a complete game shutout, while allowing only two hits in a 2-0 win over Nicholls State in non-conference action Wednesday night.
"Courtney Ramos gave us a chance to win tonight," Coach Howard Dobson said. "She is starting to find herself and her groove. I thought we came out and set the tone early, defensively and offensively. We played a complete first inning."
The Golden Eagles (12-13-1), winners of their last two, tallied six hits. Senior Kristin Pilgrim led the way going 2-of-3 at the plate, including a solo home run the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ramos improved to 8-5 on the season, while Lacy Gros (9-5) took the loss for Nicholls State (17-9).
Southern Miss got things going in the bottom of the first inning when Courtney Hill earned a walk, and then Leslie LeJune reached on a fielder's choice. LeJune then advanced to second on ground out by Pilgrim before advancing to third on a pass ball. Megan Hill then singled to center field, plating LeJune. The Golden Eagles threatened to add to their run total after Megan Hill stole second and advanced to third on an Ashley Razey single to the shortstop. Gros then got Lauren Castellvi to pop out to the shortstop.
The Colonels threatened in the top of the second when Kara Harrington reach base on a Golden Eagle error and advance to second on a failed pickoff. Logan Johnson singled up the middle. Harrington was then thrown out at the plate trying to score from second. Ramos then retired the next two batters.
Southern Miss got its second run in the fifth when Pilgrim took a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence to run her total to four home runs on the season.
Four other Golden Eagles recorded hits, Megan Hill, Razey, Castellvi and Logan James. Megan Hill also finished the night with two stolen bases.
"I would have liked it if we had made better adjustments at the plate," Dobson said. "We hit too many fly balls. We just need to keep growing as a team. That's two games in a row and we need to keep it going."
Southern Miss returns to action with a three-game conference series against East Carolina with a double-header set for Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m., followed by a single tilt Sunday at noon.
