University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Opens C-USA Schedule at UAB This Weekend
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team concludes its seven-game road swing with a three-game, Conference USA-opening series at UAB this weekend.
The Golden Eagles and Blazers will play a 1 p.m., doubleheader on Saturday and conclude the set with a 1 p.m. single contest, Sunday. Southern Miss leads the overall series 21-9 and took two of three at the USM Softball Complex in 2008.
Southern Miss (9-11-1) has won three of four games on the road trip and look to improve on its 9-15 league record from a season ago.
Through the first 21 games, the team has made big strides from last season.
The team batting average, which was .232 a year ago, is .276 with three players hitting better than .300 and two more at .270 or better. The club, which stole 38 bases a year ago, has 28 already this season in 35 attempts.
Leading the way offensively for the Golden Eagles is junior Megan Hill, who has team best for batting average (.429), hits (24), doubles (9), home runs (4) and RBI (20). Sophomore Courtney Hill ranks next at .371 with four triples, 14 RBI and a team-best eight stolen bases in nine attempts.
Senior Kristin Pilgrim has posted a .323 average with three homers and 17 RBI, while freshmen Chanell Thurman is at .289 and Leslie LeJune is at .270, respectively.
Freshman Casey Jo Matthews holds down second place on the team in stolen bases with six, while Megan Hill has five.
The trio of Golden Eagle pitchers should all see some action in the circle this weekend. Freshman Courtney Ramos leads the team with a 6-4 mark and a 3.00 earned run average. She also has fanned a team-best 51 batters over 60 2/3 innings. Senior Samantha Davis is next at 2-4 with a 4.65 ERA, while sophomore Lana Vaughn holds a 1-2 record with a 5.14 ERA.
UAB enters the weekend with a 6-9 mark.
Following this weekend's action, the Golden Eagles return to play, Tuesday, when they entertain Baylor for a 6 p.m., single game at the USM Softball Complex.
