Southern Miss
Memphis
Softball Falls In Extra Innings, 3-2, In Series Finale
4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 18, 2010
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Southern Miss softball team lost the series finale in extra innings, 3-2, as Memphis' Maddie McKinley hit a walk-off single up the middle with two outs to score Kim Marshall from second.
Southern Miss' Gabby Luciani (8-8) got the loss after scattering six hits over 9.2 innings of work while striking out eight batters. Memphis' Vanessa Walle (8-8) came on relief of Carly Hummel earned the win allowing just two hits and striking out two in the final 2.0 innings.
The Golden Eagles (18-21 and 3-12) put a run on the board in the first when Leslie LeJune reached base on a fielding error by the short stop. She moved to second when Megan Hill drew a walk. Alexis Hurley battled Hummel to a full-count before singling to shallow left to score LeJune from second.
Memphis (23-19, 7-10) got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Heather Mott singled through the left side and advanced to second on the sac bunt by Jessica Phillips. Kailey Kassner, pinch hitting for Alyssa Palmieri, drew a walk and Palmieri re-entered the game. With one out, Keanah Prestridge hit a foul ball on the right side of the field and Hill made the catch, but Mott tagged and went to third while Palimeri appeared to be out at second on the tag, but the Thurman couldn't hang out to the ball and Mott scored off the error.
Southern Miss scored a run in the top seventh when Lauren Castellvi drew a walk was out on a fielder's choice by Brandi Alonzo. With two outs, LeJune then doubled down the left field line and Alonzo scored from first the put the Eagles up 2-1.
The Tigers answered back in the bottom of the seventh with one out when Walle homered to left to tie the game at 2-2. Luciani got Mott to fly out to center and got Phillips looking to end the inning.
Both teams got a runner on base but neither team was able to push a run across in the eighth.
Walle entered the game to pitch for the Tigers in the top of the ninth. After Chanell Thurman lined out to first, Castellvi then doubled to left center and moved to third on a ground out to second. The Eagles left Castellvi stranded on third as LeJune grounded out to first. For Memphis, Rowan drew a walk in the bottom half on the frame and pinch runner Shanna Brown moved to second on a ground out by Walle. The Tigers then added their second runner when Mott reached with a base on balls before Phillips hit a deep fly ball and Hill made the catch on the warning track to end the inning.
Heading into the 10th, Britney Dinelt led off with a base hit up the middle for the Eagles, but Walle then retired the Eagles in order as with two strikeouts and a ground out. The Tigers got a runner on when Prestridge singled up the middle. Alex Marshall reached on a fielder's choice and pinch runner Kim Sirman was out at second. Marshall moved to second as Bernardino drew a walk. Marshall then scored on a walk-off single up the middle by Maddie McKinley to end the game.
Southern Miss left nine runners stranded on the afternoon. The Golden Eagles return home to host Nicholls State in a mid-week non-conference game at 6 p.m. Southern Miss continues its homestand when the Eagles host Marshall in a three-game series Saturday and Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is 1 p.m. The Sunday contest will be televised nationally on CBS C with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
