University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Softball Set For Tiger Invitational
2/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 17, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss softball team will travel to Auburn, Ala. for the 2011 Tiger Invitational, Feb. 18-20. The Golden Eagles (3-2) will open the tournament against Campbell (4-2) in a non-conference matchup Friday at 10 a.m., followed by a 12:30 matchup against Host Auburn. Following that game, Southern Miss will face Western Carolina on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The Eagles will conclude the tournament against McNeese State Sunday at 9 a.m.
Southern Miss at Tiger Invitational
Friday, Feb 18
vs. Campbell - 10 a.m.
@ Auburn - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb 19
vs. Western Carolina - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 20
vs. McNeese State - 9 a.m.
About Southern Miss
The Golden Eagles enter the Tiger Invitational with a 3-2 record after 5-4 come-from-behind victory against South Alabama Wednesday. Southern Miss scored all five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore first baseman/DP Christina Roosmalen leads the Eagle offense with a .417 average, three doubles, a home run and three RBI. Senior second baseman Jill Mathis follows at .389 with four runs, a double, two home runs and five RBI. Juniors Britney Dinelt and Michelle Takeda round out the top four with a .364 and .313 average, respectively.
Sophomore Beth Dietrich (1-1, 3.27 ERA) and junior Courtney Ramos (1-1, 3.23 ERA) have combine for 15 strikeouts in 23.2 innings of work.
Eagles Against the Field
Campbell
Series Record: First Meeting
Scouting the Fighting Camels: Campbell brings a 4-2 record into the weekend. The Camels split a doubleheader with College of Charleston on Tuesday, winning the second game, 3-2, before losing the first, 7-1.
Christina Melton leads Campbell at the plate with a .429 average, four runs, a triple, a home run and five RBI. Keeli Michael follows at .368 with four doubles and three RBI.
Brittany Arnn (2-0) carries a 1.45 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 9.2 innings of work.
Auburn
Series Record: Auburn leads the series 1-0
Last Meeting: Mar. 1, 2006 - Auburn won 4-1 in Pensacola, Fla.
Scouting the Tigers: Auburn enters the weekend receiving votes in both polls. The Tigers (4-0) participated in the 2011 Easton All-Alabama Classic, posting victories over Alabama State, Troy, Jacksonville State and Samford. Morgan Estell leads Auburn with a .571 average, eight runs and two home runs. Kelley Smiley is batting .400.
Angel Bunner, Lauren Schmalz and Jenee Loree combined for a 1.08 ERA, four wins, 34 strikeouts and one shutout in 26.0 innings.
Western Carolina
Series Record: First meeting
Scouting the Catamounts: Western Carolina brings a 6-0 record into the weekend. The Catamounts opened the season winning the North Carolina Central Tournament, then followed with a double-header sweep of South Carolina State.
Robyn Burnette leads Western with a .750 batting average, 10 runs and nine RBI. Erin Foster and Kelly Braman are batting .600 with a team-best 12 RBI.
Katie King and Amber Steinhardt, each, post a 3-0 to go with 0.54 and 0.68 ERA, respectively, in a combined 23.1 innings of work.
McNeese
Series Record: Southern Miss leads 24-6
Last Meeting: Mar. 3, 2009 - Southern Miss won 3-2 in Lake Charles, La.
Scouting the Cowgirls: McNeese State brings a 1-4 record into the weekend. The Cowgirls opened the season at the Baylor Getterman Classic, posting a 4-0 shutout over USTA in the final game.
Claire Terracina leads McNeese with a .385 batting average, with a double and a triple. Kelsey McClain, Meagan Bond, Kayla Shepherd and Tiffany Denham have combined for a 4.74 ERA with 28 Ks in 31.0 innings.
Golden Eagle Quick Hits
• Senior second baseman Jill Mathis has had a hit in each of the Golden Eagles' five games.
• Sophomore Christina Roosmalen has had a hit in the past four games and has had a double in three of those four games.
• Freshman Kelly Smith picked up her first career win as a Golden Eagle against South Alabama.
