Southern Miss
Northwestern State
Softball Sweeps Midweek Doubleheader Against Northwestern State
4/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 22, 2009
Game One Box Score 
|Game Two Box Score
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team competed a doubleheader sweep of non-conference Northwestern State Wednesday at the USM Softball Complex. The Golden Eagles won the first game, 8-3, and used the long ball in the nightcap to take a 2-1 victory.
Southern Miss improved to 23-22-2 overall, while Northwestern State dropped to 5-40.
"It was nice to come out and get two wins," Coach Dobson said. "We've only gotten two wins one other time this year and that was in the Kennesaw tournament. Our pitchers threw well. Sam threw well in the first game. She gave up a couple of runs when she got herself in a bind when a couple of balls fell in on her. We did a good job of scoring early and put ourselves in the lead to where we could make some changes in our lineups. Lana came in and threw well and shut the door for us."
In game one, Samantha Davis earned the win for Southern Miss, moving to 10-8 on the season. Davis gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out five. Leigh Appenfeller (1-6) lasted only 1.1 innings of work in taking the loss for the Lady Demons. Appenfeller allowed five runs, four earned, on three hits.
The Golden Eagles batted around in the bottom of the second inning, using a couple of Lady Demon errors, four hits, catcher's interference and a pair hit by pitches, to score five run in taking a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Southern Miss tacked on three more runs when Britney Dinelt singled then stole second. Brandi Alonzo followed with a single up the middle and Megan Hill singled through the left side to plate Dinelt. With two outs, Kristin Pilgrim planted a double to right center field to drive in Alonzo and Hill.
Northwestern State got its first two runs in the fourth on three hits. Cary Bruno got things started for the Lady Demons when she beat out an infield hit, then moved to second when Randi Stuard singled to right. Samantha Roberts drew a walk to load the bases. The Demons scored on a sac fly to center field and Leslie Johnson doubled to down the left field line to play Stuard.
The Lady Demons added another run in the fifth when Cassandra Poincik started with a single center. Brittany Card reached on a bunt single. Davis got Stormi Stech to ground out and then struck out Bruno. Stuard reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Poncik.
Lana Vaughn came on in relief of Davis in the final two innings and gave up only one hit. Razey, Dinelt and Alonzo all finished with two hits apiece.
"We didn't have the best offensive day," said Dobson. "The two hits were very big hits. It's nice to see Razey swing the bat better for us. That's three home runs in the last three games. With her starting to swing a little better, it helps us out and gives us another weapon."
In game two, Razey belted two home runs which accounted all of the Golden Eagles' scoring in taking a 2-1 win.
Courtney Ramos picked up her 12th victory of the season, scattering four hits over seven innings and striking out seven. Kelee Grimes took the loss for the Lady Demons.
Northwestern threatened in the opening inning, but the Golden Eagles were able to wiggle out of the jam with a line drive double play.
In the bottom half of the frame, Hill drew one of her two walks and moved to second with a stolen base. Grimes got Pilgrim to fly out to center and James lined out to second.
Ramos gave up a walk to open the inning, but got out of the inning with two strikeouts and a pop up. In the bottom half, Razey took a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to put the Golden Eagles up 1-0.
Northwestern tied the game in the fourth when Ward singled to right and was sacrificed to second. Poncik singled through the left side to drive in Ward from second.
The score remained tied until the sixth when Razey hit her fifth dinger of the season on a 1-0 pitch to left center.
Pellerin began the seventh with a single up the middle and was sacrificed to second. Ramos then struck out Card and got Stech to popup to end the game.
Southern Miss remains at home when the Golden Eagles host C-USA opponent Houston in a three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m., followed b a single game Sunday at noon.
