Southern Miss
Marshall
Softball Team Splits Double-header With Marshall
3/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 21, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - Southern Miss collected eight hits, but left 11 runners on base in game two of the double-header as Marshall downs Southern Miss, 8-2.
"We had a lot of missed opportunities in the second game," Coach Dobson said. "It was very disappointing to see because we looked like the team from the month of February."
Courtney Ramos takes the loss for the Golden Eagles dropping to 9-6, while Autumn Mitchell improves to 6-2.
Southern Miss threatened in the first inning, loading the bases with only one out and could not push a run across the plate.
The Golden Eagles pushed a run across the plate in the top of the second when Stephanie Shiflet reached base on an error then stole second. Courtney Hill recorded the first of her three hits when she singled just past first base, plating Shiflet. Hill then stole second and Leslie LeJune walked. Both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch. Mitchell finally got out of the inning in getting Pilgrim to fly out to right field.
Southern Miss missed an opportunity to add to its one-run lead when Megan Hill led the third inning off with a triple. Mitchell then retired the next three batters.
The Herd tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the third when Kelly Nielson singled to left to start the inning then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Herd scored when the J. J. Bitner reach on an error and the ball got away from the Eagles allowing pinch runner Jessica Hughes to score.
Southern Miss once again missed an opportunity with two outs when Courtney Hill singled to right followed by a walk by LeJune. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch before Mitchell got Pilgrim to fly out on a diving catch by Bitner in centerfield.
Marshall broke open the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. The Herd added three more in the bottom of the fifth.
Southern Miss mustered only one more run in the game when Chanell Thurman singled to left then advance to second on a ground out. Courtney Hill collected her third hit on a single to right with Thurman advancing to third. Thurman then scored on a LeJune fielder's choice.
Marshall got the run back in the bottom half when Alianna Telles single down the left field line and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Telles scored on an error.
Mitchell gave up one hit in the top of the seventh then retired the remaining two batters to preserve the win.
Southern Miss Uses Long Ball To Take 7-2 Win In Game One
 Kristin Pilgrim belted two home runs today  | |
Samantha Davis picked up her fifth win of the season, while striking out six.
Southern Miss got things started in the second when Megan Hill singled to right then stole second. Ashley Razey moved Hill to third on a single to first base. Casey Jo Matthews came on to pinch run for Razey. Matthews stole second then advanced to third on the error with Hill scoring from third on the play. Brittney Jones reached with a walk followed by Chanell Thurman single that landed just behind the pitcher. Stephanie Shiflet then singled to right field, plating Jones and Thurman advancing to third. Shiflet stole second before Courtney Hill singled up the middle, scoring Thurman.
Southern Miss put another run on the board in the fifth when Pilgrim hit a solo home run to straight away center field. The Golden Eagles started the sixth with three straight hits with Lauren Castellvi led off with a double, followed by single up the middle by Jones. Thurman got an RBI single to left.
The Golden Eagles got their final two runs on back-to-back home runs by Pilgrim and Megan Hill in the top of the seventh.
Marshall had five hits in the bottom of the seventh, including a two run home run by Nielson to make the final score, 7-2.
Southern Miss returns to action Sunday for the rubber game of the series.
