University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Memphis
Softball Team Wins Series, Defeats Memphis 3-2
3/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 29, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss (18-16-1, 7-5 C-USA)scored all three runs needed in the bottom of the first inning, then held on to defeat Memphis, 3-2, in taking the series Sunday afternoon.
Samantha Davis (8-6) scattered five hits and struck out five over seven innings and gave up two runs, both unearned, to register her fifth consecutive win. Janelle Valle (5-8) took the loss for the Tigers even though she allowed only two hits.
 Ashley Razey's two-run home run gives Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead  | |
Southern Miss put up three runs in the bottom of the first when Megan Hill led off with a walk, then, stole second. Leslie LeJune reached base on a walk before Kristin Pilgrim advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Megan Hill scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Alexis Hurley. Then, Ashley Razey hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to right center, to put the Golden Eagles up 3-0.
"I said it yesterday before we left to just find a way and we had the opportunities today," Coach Howard Dobson said. "And we found a way. We're still not happy with the fielding, but we were second in fielding percentage coming into today. But as long as we keep winning I can't really complain."
Memphis (14-18, 2-7) cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth aided by three Golden Eagle errors. Davis retired the first Tiger batter, but Nikki Moreno singled to left and advanced to second on an error. Alyssa Palmieri came on to pinch run for Moreno. Leandra Hines reached base with a bunt single with Palmieri moving to third in the process. Hines then stole second, but another Eagle error allowed Palmieri to get home and Hines moved to third on yet another error by the Golden Eagles. Leila Dolfo then delivered a single to plate Hines.
In the last two innings, Davis allowed only one base runner, a lead-off walk in the six, before retiring the last six batters.
Southern Miss returns to action when the Golden Eagles host nationally ranked LSU Wednesday, April 2, at 6 p.m.
