Southern Miss
Houston
Golden Eagle Softball Drops Two to Houston
3/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team struggled at the plate and in the field falling to Houston, 5-0 and 10-2 in six innings in Conference USA action Saturday.
The Golden Eagles dropped to 10-19 overall and 0-5 in league play while Houston improved to 20-12 and 3-3.
Box Score | Game One Box Score in PDF Format 
In game one, Houston's Amanda Crabtree (12-6) recorded her third no-hit shutout for the complete game victory with a season-best 13 strikeouts. She gave up three walks. Beth Dietrich (5-9) took the loss in giving up five runs, but only two were earned. She allowed no walks and struck out three in 6.0 innings.
After both teams used a three-up and three-down first, the Cougars put a run on the board in the top of the second on a solo home run by Melissa Gregson.
Houston would add another run in the top of the fourth as Brooke Lathan led off with a double and scored on a Stesha Brazil ground out.
In the meantime, Crabtree went to work against the Golden Eagles. She after the first two USM batters put the ball in play, Crabtree registered seven consecutive strikeouts.
Houston would tack on three more runs in the fifth inning on three hits and two Eagle errors for the final 5-0 scoreline.
Box Score | Game Two Box Score in PDF Format
In the second game of the day, Houston scored three runs in the first to take a quick 3-0 lead on three hits and one Eagle error.
The Golden Eagles got their first hit of the day when Leslie LeJune leadoff with a single, but a heads up defensive play by the Cougars got USM out on a double play.
The Cougars put four runs in the second after Sherman singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt. Reina Gaber reached on an error and Sherman scored. Gregson then belted a two-run long ball to put the Cougars up 6-0.
Southern Miss went to its bullpen as Kelly Smith relieved starter Gabby Luciani (2-3) who took the loss for the Eagles. Jennifer Klinkert had a triple to right and scored on an infield single.
Houston added a run in the top of the fourth as Gregson doubled and came around to score when Lathan doubled down the left field line.
Southern Miss got two runs in the home half of the fourth when Michelle Takeda and Jill Mathis reached base on consecutive Cougar errors. Britney Dinelt then doubled to center to plate both runs.
Southern Miss threaten in the bottom of the fifth after LeJune reached base on another Cougar error and moved to second when Houston's second baseman couldn't hold on to the ball in trying to tag LeJune on Taylor Brown's fielder choice. The Cougars had a pitching change as Crabtree entered the game and promptly struck out back-to-back Eagles the side to end the threat.
Houston added the final two runs in the sixth when Gaber singled and Gregson collected her second home run of the game with a two-run blast over left field. Crabtree then struck out the final three batters to end the game.
Houston's starter Donna Bourgeois (6-6) earned the win as she gave up three hits and two unearned run. She had four strikeouts and no walks.
The two teams will meet at 11 a.m., Sunday for the final game of the series.
