Southern Miss
UCF (DH)
Eagles Fall in Game One, 7-4
3/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team suffered two tough losses in Conference USA action Saturday, losing to UCF 7-4 in game one and dropping game two 3-2 in nine innings.
Southern Miss falls to 12-13 and 0-5 in league play while UCF improved to 21-12 and kept its lead in the standing at 6-1.
Game One The Golden Eagles led 4-3 heading into the top of the seventh but was unable to hold that lead as UCF scored four runs in the top half of the inning on four hits.
Courtney Ramos (5-6), who took the loss for the Eagles, had only allowed two hits through the first six innings. UCF's Ashleigh Cole (13-6) earned the win for the Knights.
The Golden Eagles scored first in the bottom of the first when Leslie LeJune singled then stole second. With two outs, Megan Hill singled between third and short to score LeJune. Hill then stole second. Logan James singled up the middle, but Hill was thrown out the plate to end the inning.
Southern Miss threaten in the bottom of the second when Lauren Castellvi doubled to right center but Cole was able to retire Brandi Alonzo for the final out.
UCF took the lead after posting two runs in the top of the third when Vanessa Perez singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Ramos struck out Morgan Bullard but she was able to reach first on a dropped third strike, moving Perez to third. UCF scored when Bullard stole second and in the process attempted to pick off Perez at third when she had gotten too far off the base, but the throw was off the mark and went into left field allowing Bullard to reach third. Natalie Land then hit a sacrifice fly to left to push Bullard across.
The Golden Eagles responded in the bottom half of the frame when LeJune reached base with a error and Jill Mathis belted her second home run of the season to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
UCF tied the game in the fourth when Arielle Palafox started the inning with a home run over left field fence.
Alexis Hurley started the bottom half with a single to center and moved to second on a ground to third by Castellvi.
Southern Miss broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with Hill leading off the inning with a walk the moved to second as James grounded out to the pitcher. Hill moved to third on a single by Hurley. Pinch runner Kirsten Perry stole second before Chanell Thurman singled to right to score Hill. UCF came up with a big defensive play and turned a fielder's choice into an inning ending double play.
The Knights started the seventh inning with a double down the right field line by Menendez who moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cole. Perez singled up the middle, scoring Menendez to tie the game at 4-4. Bullard then singled to third and moved Perez to second. UCF loaded the base when Abby McClain reached on a fielder's choice. Perez scored on a fielder's choice as the throw was high trying to get the runner from third. Bullard was able to add a run when she scored on a wild pitch and McClain and Land moved up a base. Gabby Luciani came on to pitch for the Eagles, but Hillary Burrow singled to right to score McClain. Luciani then retired the final two batter on strikeouts.
Christina Roosmalen started the final inning with a pinch hit single, but the Eagles were not able to capitalize as Cole retired the final three batters.
