Southern Miss
Memphis
Softball Takes Game One of C-USA Series, 2-0
4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 17, 2010
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Southern Miss freshman Gabby Luciani pitched her second shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Memphis in the opening game of the Conference USA series.
Luciani (8-7) got the win for the Eagles (17-20, 2-11), allowing only two hits in the complete game shutout, while striking out five and walking only one. Memphis' Carly Hummel (13-8) took the loss for the Tigers, was equally impressive as she struck out nine and also walked only one.
Hummel did not allow a Golden Eagle runner through the first four innings. In the bottom of fourth Memphis (22-18, 6-9) put two runners on when Maddie McKinely reached base first after being hit by a pitch then stole second. After Luciani retired the next two batters, McKinley stole third before Heather Mott drew a walk. Jessica Phillips then lined out to right field as the Eagles escaped the inning with giving up a run.
Heading into the fifth, Memphis' pitcher Carly Hummel had retired 12 consecutive batters while working a no-hit shutout. She promptly added two more to run her total to 14-striaght before Alexis Hurley hit a bloop-single just out of the reach of the shortstop to give the Golden Eagles their first hit of the game. Chanell Thurman then sent a 1-1 pitch over left field fence for her third home run of season, giving Southern Miss a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame, Alex Marshall reached on a Golden Eagle error to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Keanah Prestridge. Luciani then struck out pinch hitter Kailey Kassner and got Lelani Bernardino to ground out to pitcher to end the inning.
Jill Mathis drew a walk to start the seventh and advanced to second on Logan James' sacrifice bunt. Hummel ended the inning with a pop-out and strike out for the Eagles.
Memphis opened the bottom of the seventh with a lead off hit to left by Mott. The next three Tiger batters flew out to left, lined out to short and flew out to right to end the game.
