Southern Miss
Western Carolina
Golden Eagle Softball Posts 4-2 Victory Western Carolina
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 19, 2011
AUBURN, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team scored runs in the sixth and seventh innings in securing a 4-2 win over Western Carolina Saturday evening in the Tiger Invitational.
Gabby Luciani (1-0) picked up her first win of the season in 6.2 innings of work and striking out eight batters while Katie King (3-2) took the loss for the Catamounts.
"Having Gabby back and just having her presence on the mound is huge for us," Coach Howard Dobson said. "This is the most pitches she has thrown since last spring. Seeing her back out there and competing and what a great job she did. She hit her spots, put the ball where she wanted, had eight strikeouts and did what she was suppose to do. She didn't try to over-power hitters and she spun the ball really well."
After a three up and three-down first inning, Southern Miss (4-4) took the early lead in the top of the second as Britney Dinelt reached base on an error, advancing to second. Christina Roosmalen connected on a 2-1 pitch that cleared the centerfield wall for her second home run of the season.
Western Carolina (7-2) got a run back in the home half of the third inning. Amelia Griffin led off the inning with an infield single and moved to second on the sac bunt. Robyn Burnette had a RBI base hit to center to plate Griffin.
The Golden Eagles threatened in the top of the fourth with Michelle Takeda leading off with a single to left, but was thrown out in a steal attempt. Jill Mathis followed with a single to left and moved to second on a base hit by Roosmalen. Southern Miss could push the run across as King got Mackenzie to pop out to short.
The Catamounts tied the game in the bottom after Erin Foster led off with a single to left. Luciani retired the next two batters before Morgan Wyatt doubled to center to send Foster home for the 2-2 tie.
"It was nice to Brittany Lilly come up with an RBI opportunity when we were up by only one," Dobson said. "We were tied two-all, then, we pinched hit Danielle LaPointe and she had a big RBI to tie the game. She comes into the game, cold off the bench, and lines one up the middle to score the go-ahead run."
Western Carolina got the leadoff runner on courtesy of a Golden Eagle error. Following a delay after home plate umpire Donny Finlayson caught a foul ball off the front of his mask and had to leave the game. The Golden Eagles were able to get out of the inning with the Catamounts lined into the double play before Luciani struck out the batter for the final out of the inning.
With two out in the top of the sixth, Dinelt drew and walk and advanced to second when Roosmalen collected her third hit of the game. LaPointe then hit a pinch hit single to center to score Dinelt.
Southern Miss added its final run in the top of the seventh when Chanell Thurman doubled to left. Pinch runner Kacie Eich advanced to third on a pass ball. Western Carolina came up with two nice defensive plays before Lilly's hit to left got pass the left fielder for a triple to score Eich.
WCU got its leadoff runner on with a walk. The Eagles' defense stepped up big as Griffin singled to right, but Michelle Takeda fired the ball into second to get the force. Makenzi Mcteer reached on a fielder's choice before Fulton's infield single.
Courtney Ramos came on in relief of Luciani with two outs and Thurman made a diving catch to end the game. Ramos posted her first save.
"Thurman didn't have the greatest day defensively, she struggled early," said Dobson. "The one thing we preach to our kids is it's all about checks and balances. If you're having a bad day defensively, pick us up offensively. She hits a big double to lead off the inning. We get her to third, then, Lilly comes up in one of the few at-bats she has had and showed that she could handle the bat. She had a real calm presence at the plate, steps up and drives the ball to left field for a triple. We are excited to see those kids step up. Christina Roosmalen hits another big home run for us."
Southern Miss concludes play in the Tiger Invitational when the Golden Eagles meet McNeese State in a 9 a.m., game.
