Southern Miss
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UTEP
Softball Splits Doubleheader With UTEP
4/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team split its doubleheader with UTEP, losing the first game, 2-0, then winning the second game, 9-5.
"In the first game we didn't execute as well as we would have liked," Coach Howard Dobson said. "Sam threw well even though she game up some hits early and gave up a couple of run. But she settled down and gave us a chance to make a game of it and gave us a chance to win. We battled and loaded the bases in the last inning, we just didn't score. We have to do a better job of executing with what the pitcher is doing; we were trying to do something totally different. The second game we came back and they touched up Ramos early, but we got a lead early. I can't say enough about the way Lana Vaughn came in and threw. She held us there and gave us a chance to score some more runs and gave us a big lead. The way she had been battling all year long, it was nice to see her be successful today. The reason why we won was because Lana Vaughn shut the door."
UTEP's Stacie Townsend earned her 14th win of the season, pitching a no-hitter through the first four innings and striking out six in the 2-0 shutout. Townsend had only allowed one base runner when Britney Dinelt drew a walk in the third inning. Samantha Davis (9-8) took the loss for the Golden Eagles, giving up six hits and two runs, both earned.
UTEP scored its runs in the second inning with two outs. Shea Lodes got things going for the Miners when she singled to right, followed by a double to right center by Becky Smith, placing runners at second and third. Jennifer Stalter then singled up the middle, plating Lodes and Smith.
Freshman Ashley Razey opened the fifth inning with a singled between third and short for the first hit of the game for the Golden Eagles. Lauren Castellvi then moved pinch runner Stephanie Shiflet to second on a sacrifice bunt. Townsend then got Chanell Thurman to foul out and Dinelt to fly out to center.
The Golden Eagles threatened in final inning when Razey drew a one out walk, followed by an infield single by Castellvi to put runners at first and second. Townsend struck out pinch hitter Alexis Hurley, but pinch hitter Brittney Jones singles to left to load the bases. Leslie LeJune then grounded out to short to end the inning.
Southern Miss came back in game two to take a 9-5 victory. UTEP out hit Southern Miss 15-to-7, but it was two Golden Eagle double plays that aided in the win.
Kirstin Pilgrim tallied her ninth homer of the season, a two run dinger in the bottom of the sixth to give the Eagles a four-run cushion.
 Kristin Pilgrim notched her ninth homer of the season  | |
The Miners scored a run in the second, opening the inning with two straight hits. The Golden Eagles turned the first of two double plays to get two outs. Stalter then singled up the middle, driving in Jennifer Davis.
The Eagles added three more runs in the bottom half when Thurman was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Dinelt then reached on a UTEP error that allowed Thurman to move all the way to third. Kelly Curran replaced Mayer at pitcher for the Miners. Alonzo punched a bunt up the first base line, scoring Thurman from third and moving Dinelt to second. Megan Hill then singled to right center, plating Dinelt. Hill moved to second on a wild pitch, then, advanced to third on an illegal pitch before finally scoring on yet another illegal pitch.
UTEP countered with three runs in the third. UTEP recorded back-to-back singles by Troupe and Amber Bennett to open the inning. Townsend then grounded into a double play for two outs. Camilla Carrera then singled off Ramos' leg. Davis then hit a three-run homer to straight away center field, cutting the Eagles' lead to 6-4.
UTEP added a run in the fourth after Ashley Ellis doubled and scored when Bennett added a single to right. Lana Vaughn came on to pitch in the fourth and retired the final out of the inning.
After the Miners cut the lead to 6-5, Townsend took over pitching duties for the Miner, but the Golden Eagles responded with a run of their own as Alonzo was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a single by Hill. Pilgrim grounded out to second, but was able to move both runners up one base. James then singled to the short, driving in Alonzo.
Over the next 1.1 innings, Vaughn allowed four hits but no runs. Davis came on to finish the game, getting the last two outs to record her third save of the season.
Southern Miss added its final two runs in the sixth after Hill led off with a single and Pilgrim followed with her ninth homer of the season.
Ramos (11-10) was credited with the win working 3.2 innings. Mayer (1-2) took the loss for the miners.
Hill finished the game with three hits, followed by Pilgrim and James with two apiece.
Both teams returned to action Sunday in a noon start.
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