University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Team Opens Conference USA Play at Houston
3/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 12, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss opens Conference USA play this weekend, traveling to Houston for a three-game series Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m., followed by game two at 3 p.m. The Sunday game is schedule for a 12 p.m., start. This is the conference opener for both teams.
Golden Eagle Updates
The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 12-6 record after going 1-4 in the Razorback Invitational. Southern Miss is coming off a 2-1 heartbreaking loss to Arkansas. Jill Mathis leads the team with a .439 batting average, while Leslie LeJune has a .338 average. Mathis owns a team-leading nine doubles. Megan Hill and Alexis Hurley round out the Golden Eagle hitting offensively with .318 and .310 batting clips, respectively. Hill leads the team in home runs and RBIs. The Golden Eagles' pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.15 with a combined 120 strikeouts. Freshman Gabby Luciani has pitched 57.2 innings with 70 Ks and a 4-2 record. She has a 1.21 ERA while Courtney Ramos owns a 5-3 record while working 40.1 innings. Southern Miss is out-hitting its opponents .279 to .239 with 134 hits including 49 for extra bases.
Golden Eagle/Cougar Series History
Series Record: Houston leads the series 23-13. The Golden Eagles have played more games against Houston than any other league team.
In Houston: 7-6
In Hattiesburg: 4-11
At Neutral Sites: 2-6
Southern Miss' Series Streak: Won 1
First Meeting: Mar. 2, 2001 (L 3-2 in Baton Rouge)
Last Meeting: May 7, 2009 (W 5-4 El Paso)
Scouting Houston
Houston brings a 10-9 record into the weekend contests after sweeping a doubleheader against Southern Thursday. The Cougars are riding a modest three-game winning streak. Ashleigh Jones leads the Cougars offensively with a .344 batting average with 22 hits. Melissa Gregson has recorded four home runs and leads the team with 15 RBIs. Houston's pitching staff has a 3.39 team ERA led by Bailey Watts with a 2.33 ERA and a 6-3 record. Watts has struck out 61 batters while working 54.0 innings pitched.
On Deck -- Southern Miss returns home to host in-state rival Mississippi on Mar. 17 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
