Southern Miss
Houston
Softball Falls in Final Game of Series, 11-0
3/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2011
Box Score | Box Score in PDF Format 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Tough pitching and the hot bats of Houston combined with Southern Miss defensive miscues helped the Cougars complete the series sweep with an 11-0 win Sunday at the USM Softball Complex.
After a scoreless first inning, Houston put six runs on the board in the top of the second when USM starter Beth Dietrich issued a leadoff walk, and Brooke Lathan followed with a single to center field. Lathan, then, stole second and the Cougars scored their first run on an error. Jennifer Klinkert followed with an infield single, pushing Lathan to third and eventually scored on a wild pitch to go up 2-0 while Klinkert advanced to third after stealing second. Angela Spittler drew a walk and Ashleigh Jones reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Katy Beth Sherman then delivered a base hit to right, but another Eagle miscue led to three more Cougar runs.
Freshman Kelly Smith came in relief of starter Dietrich (5-10), who took the loss for the Eagles, got the final two outs but not before Holly Anderson's sac bunt gave Houston the 6-0 advantage.
UH's starter Donna Bourgeois (7-6) earned the win as she scattered three hits over 4.1 innings with no runs and two walks, kept the Golden Eagles off the bases as her defense was solid behind her.
Southern Miss threatened in the home half of the fifth when Mackenzie Sher led off with a single and pinch runner moved to second on sacrifice hit by Courtney Hill. Leslie LeJune drew a walk before Houston's Amanda Crabtree entered the game and pitched the final 2.2 innings. Crabtree faced eight batters and struck out seven.
The Cougars added more insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Lathan led off with a double. Klinkert followed with a walk and a pinch hit single by Erin Martin, plated Lathan. Haley Outon then capped off the Cougar scoring with a three-run homer. Dietrich re-entered the game to get the final two outs.
Southern Miss used all four pitchers as Smith pitched 1.2 innings, followed by Courtney Ramos working 2.1 innings and Gabby Luciani lasting just 0.2 innings.
Taylor Brown, Britney Dinelt and Sher recorded a hit apiece while Houston collected 11 hits, led by Sherman and Anderson tallying three hits each.
Southern Miss (10-19, 0-6) travels to South Alabama for a single game mid-week contest on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
