Southern Miss
Memphis
Southern Miss Softball Team Splits Doubleheader
3/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2009
Game One Box Score 
|Game Two Box Score
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Senior Kristin Pilgrim belted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning, in leading Southern Miss (17-16-1, past Memphis in game one of a doubleheader Saturday, 9-3. The Golden Eagles dropped the nightcap, 2-1.
Samantha Davis (7-6) recorded her fourth straight win, giving up three runs but only two were earned, while Vanessa Walle (4-6) took the loss for the Tigers.
Eight different players recorded a hit in game as Southern Miss finished the game with nine hits.
Southern Miss got on the board first, scoring two runs in the first inning as Leslie LeJune reached base with a walk, then stole second. Pilgrim then singled to right center. Megan Hill then reached on a fielder's choice before Ashley Razey drove in two runs on a single to right.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the bottom of the second when Chanell Thurman doubled to center and advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stephanie Shiflet. Courtney Hill plated Thurman on a single to center. Southern Miss got one more run in the bottom of the fifth after LeJune singled up the middle then advance to second when Pilgrim walked. Megan Hill reached base on a fielding error by the second baseman and LeJune scored.
Davis kept the Tigers' bats in check, allowing only three hits through the first five innings.
Memphis scored three runs in the top of the sixth as the Brittany Gooch led off the inning with a single. Leila Delfo reached on a fielder's choice. Tori Gross doubled to right center and Jessica Phillips singled up the middle to score Dolfo and Gross. Kailey Kassner had a pinch hit single, advancing Phillips to third who then scored on an error.
Southern Miss came right back in the bottom half of the inning and put five runs on the board. Alexis Hurley doubled to center. Thurman then reached on a fielder's choice followed by a single by Brandi Alonzo to load the bases. With two outs, LeJune walked and plated Britney Dinelt who came to pinch run for Hurley. Pilgrim then connected on a first-pitch home run to left, recording her first career grand slam.
In Game two, Southern Miss managed to out hit Memphis, 7-5, but the Golden Eagles could not push a run across late in the game as Memphis defeated Southern Miss, 2-1.
Courtney Ramos (9-7) took the loss for the Golden Eagles, while Janelle Valle (5-7) earned the win.
Memphis scored first in the second inning when Leigh Rowan led off the inning with a double to right center then moved to third on a sacrifice by Gooch then scored on a wild pitch.
Southern Miss answered in the bottom half as Hurley singled up the middle then advanced to second as Thurman grounded out to the pitcher. Shiflet singled to left field to drive in Hurley.
Memphis added a run in the top of the third as Leandra Hines reached base on an error. Lelani Bernardino and Gross had back-to-back singles as Hines was able to score, giving Memphis a 2-1 lead.
Southern Miss started the inning with back-to-back singles by LeJune and Pilgrim, but failed to push a run across as the Tigers got out of the inning with a double-play and a deep fly ball.
The Golden Eagles threatened again in the bottom of the sixth as reached with a single. Casey Jo Matthews came on to pinch run for Razey. Matthews advance to second on a wild pitch. Hurley got her second hit of the game with a single to right, but Matthews was thrown out at the plate.
The two teams will play the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m.
