Softball Concludes Regular Season This Weekend
5/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 7, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team will wrap up its regular season this weekend with a three-game series against UAB. The Eagles and Blazers will play a doubleheader Saturday. Southern Miss will also honor the 2010 senior class: Brandi Alonzo, Lauren Castellvi, Megan Hill, Logan James and Lana Vaughn in a postgame ceremony at the conclusion of Sunday's 1 p.m. game.
The Golden Eagles (24-25) currently stand at eighth in Conference USA with a 6-15 league record. UAB (34-18) is currently fourth with a 13-8 mark.
Southern Miss is led offensively by junior Jill Mathis who is batting .314 average with 49 hits, 13 doubles and five home runs and 33 RBI. Senior Megan Hill follows with a .311 average, 33 RBI, 36 runs and 10 home runs. Britney Dinelt and Leslie LeJune are batting .295 and .292, respectively, with LeJune owning a team-high 50 hits.
Freshman Gabby Luciani leads the Golden Eagles with a 10-10 record and 2.20 ERA. Luciani has 151 strikeouts in 159.1 innings of work. Sophomore Courtney Ramos (8-10) carries a 3.65 ERA with 70 K's in 119.0 innings.
UAB comes into the weekend winning four of their five games. The Blazers are led by senior Martina Landrum, who boasts team highs in batting average (.357), hits (50), and stolen bases (30). Kayla Orr and Mandy Lowman are the only other Blazers to bat better than .300 at .352 and .351, respectively. Lauren Webster leads the UAB pitching staff with a 16-5 record and a 1.85 ERA in 139.2 innings of work with 161 strikeouts. Alisha Smith is 12-11 with a 2.07 ERA with 154 strikeouts in 158.2 innings pitched.
Southern Miss and UAB have played 32 times in a series dating back to 2000. Southern Miss leads the overall series 22-10 against UAB. Over the last two years, the series record is tied 3-3.
The weekend will feature a variety of activities involving former and current players. The softball program will recognize the 10th anniversary of the 2000 Women's College World Series team in addition to recognizing the 2010 seniors.
Southern Miss Against UAB Series Record: Southern Miss leads 22-10 Last meeting: Mar. 8, 2009 - Southern Miss dropped a 1-0 decision in the rubber game of the series in Birmingham.
Scouting the Blazers: UAB brings a 34-18 overall record into the weekend. The UAB is currently fourth in league standings with a 13-8 mark in conference play.
Martina Landrum paces the team with a .357 average, 13 doubles and a team-best 41 runs. Kayla Orr follows at .352 with 39 RBI. Mandy Lowman rounds out the top three with a .351 average, a team-best nine home runs.
Lauren Webster (16-5) carries a 1.85 ERA with 161 strikeouts in 139.2 innings of work while Alisha Smith is 12-11 with a 2.07 ERA and 154 K's in 158.2 innings.
Eagle Notes. • Senior Megan Hill holds the all-time records for on base percentage, hits, runs, RBI, triples, home runs and walks. She needs only three doubles to become the all-time leader in that category as well. Eagles Celebrate Senior Day Sunday Southern Miss will honor the 2010 senior class (Brandi Alonzo, Lauren Castellvi, Megan Hill, Logan James and Lana Vaughn) in a postgame ceremony following Sunday's 1 p.m. game against UAB.