University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Jackson State (DH)
Southern Miss Softball Sweeps Jackson State in Mid-Week Doubleheader
3/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 31, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team snapped a 10-game losing streak, sweeping a Jackson State in a mid-week doubleheader, 10-0 in five innings and 6-4 in game two.
Southern Miss evened its record at 14-14 while Jackson State dropped to 8-18.
"Definitely feels good to be on the other side for a change," Coach Howard Dobson said. "To come in and get two wins. We did some good things today in that the first game; jumped out and took care of some business. Courtney Ramos did an excellent job throwing and didn't have any walks, which is one of the things we've been working on. We played a game with no errors and we haven't done that in a long time. Our hitters came through in clutch situations and we came away with a W.
"Came back in the second game and Gabby did a good job," Dobson said. "She got in a little trouble in the first inning, gave up two walks, hit a batter, but settled in and did a pretty good job of throwing and hitting her spots. We went with a different lineup and some new kids got a chance to play and step up and get some things done. A big home run by Thurman and some good plays by Dinelt at third. We are going to get ourselves back in there and keep working. Hopefully, we change the momentum and build on these two wins."
Game One Southern Miss 10, Jackson State 0 (5 innings)
After an inning and half of three-up and three-down by both teams, Southern Miss finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning with two outs, Lauren Castellvi reached base on a JSU fielding error. Chanell Thurman followed with a single past the shortstop, moving Castellvi to second. Brandi Alonzo drew a walk to load the bases. That's when Stephanie Shiflet recorded her first career home run as the line drive to center field sailed over the head of the center fielder and Shiflet cleared the bases with an inside the park home run.
Southern Miss' starter Courtney Ramos (6-6) who earned the shutout victory held the Tigers' bats in check over the first three innings not allowing any runners on base.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the bottom of the third when Leslie LeJune led off the inning with a single to left and moved to second on another JSU error. Jill Mathis then doubled to left center, scoring LeJune. JSU starter Brittanie Talley (4-6) settled in a retired the next three batters in end the inning.
Jackson State recorded its first hit in the fourth with two outs as Farren Wright singled up the middle, but was left stranded.
Southern Miss added five runs in the bottom half of the frame. Thurman hit her first triple to right and Alonzo followed with a single through the infield to score Thurman and move to second on a bunt single by Shiflet. Megan Hill then belted her eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot over left field. LeJune doubled to center and reached home when Logan James singled to right. James moved to third on a ground out by Alexis Hurley. Castellvi walked but Thurman grounded out to short to end the inning.
Ramos was able to close out the game retiring the final three batters on two ground outs and a strike out.
Southern Miss finished the game with 10 hits including five hits for extra bases.
Game Two Southern Miss 6, Jackson State 4
 Chanell Thurman hits second home run of the season  | |
Freshman Gabby Luciani (5-5) went the distance, giving up four runs only two earned while striking out eight. JSU's Jessica Villegas (2-4) got the loss as she gave up six runs on seven hits.
The Tigers scored a run in the first as Luciani found herself in trouble after walking the two of the first three batters. Amanda Boggan walked and stole second. Villegas drew a walk and Boggan stole third. Delyse beat out a bunt, moving Villegas to second. Boggan scored when Farren Wright was hit by a pitch.
Southern Miss responded in the bottom half of the frame when LeJune doubled to right and scored when Mathis singled to right.
For the next two and half innings, neither team was able to push a run across. Jackson State did record a hit in the second, third and fourth innings while Villegas retired six consecutive Southern Miss batters.
In the bottom of the fourth, Christina Roosmalen started the inning with a walk and pinch runner Shiflet came around and scored when Britney Dinelt doubled down the left field line. Thurman then sent a 1-0 pitch off the scoreboard for her second home run of the season. Danielle LaPointe drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alonzo. JSU's Boggan made a tough defensive catch for the second out of the inning. Hill then doubled to right center to score LaPointe and give Southern Miss a 5-1 lead.
Jackson State cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the fifth as Boggan singled to third and stole second. Luciani got Chaundra Greer to ground out, moving Boggan to third. Villegas walked before Montgomery struck out. Wendi Reed then singled to left center to score Boggan. Wright then hit a deep fly to right, but Hill was unable to come up with the catch and Villegas and Reed scored.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the bottom as Mathis reached base on a fielding error and moved to second on a sac bunt. Dinelt walked before Thurman singled to right to load the bases. LaPointe reached base on a fielder's choice and Mathis scored on the throwing error. Villegas was able to get out of the bases loaded with back-to-back ground outs and a fly ball to right.
Luciani gave up one more hit in the final two innings to seal the win.
Southern Miss returns to Conference USA play when the Golden Eagles travel to El Paso, Texas for a three-game series with UTEP, Apr. 2-3.
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