Southern Miss
Marshall
Eagle Softball Avoids the Sweep, Takes Series Finale, 5-1
4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | Box Score in PDF Format 
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - The Southern Miss softball team avoided the sweep against Marshall, posting a 5-1 win in the final game of the series Saturday.
Southern Miss improved to 17-29 and more importantly 4-14 in league play.
Sophomore Beth Dietrich (9-14) picked up the win in a relief effort working the final 4.1 innings, giving up only two hits and no runs. Marshall's starter Erika Bennett (2-5) took the loss giving up two runs on two hits. Golden Eagle starter Gabby Luciani pitched the first 2.2 innings allowing only one run on one hit for a no decision.
Southern Miss threatened in the opening inning as Leslie LeJune led off with a double, but the Eagles couldn't push her across.
The Golden Eagles put up three runs in the top of the second when Jill Mathis led off with a single and advanced to second when Chanell Thurman walked. After a Marshall pitching change, Alexis Hurley then sent a first-pitch ball well over left field to give the Southern Miss a 3-0 advantage. USM looked as if it would put mores on the scoreboard when Brittany Lilly was hit by pitch and LeJune reached base on four straight balls. Once again, the Herd went to the bullpen. Lilly got to third on an errand throw by the catcher, but Natalee Pulver got Taylor Brown to ground out to second for the final out of the inning.
Heading into the bottom half of the inning, Luciani retired the first two batters before giving up a bunt single to Jessica Hughes. Luciani then struck out Bri Anna Hope for the final out.
In the bottom of the third, Marshall got a run back when Samantha Spurlock reached base after being hit by a pitch, but Taylor Thompson lined into a double play to empty the bases. The Herd then loaded the bases on three consecutive walks and scored their run when Jazmine Valle drew a RBI walk. Dietrich entered the game and caught Melanie Stoehr looking to end the inning.
After a leadoff single by Alianna Telles to start fifth inning for Marshall, the Golden Eagle defense stepped up as Thurman laid out to knock down a line drive and tossed it to second to get the lead runner. Marshall then loaded the bases on hit by pitch and a single to short that kept Rebecca Gamby at third. Dietrich then got Stoehr to ground into a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Southern Miss opened the sixth inning with a leadoff single by Michelle Takeda. Thurman moved her over with a sac bunt. Hurley drew a walk before Mackenzie reached on a fielder's choice with Takeda out at third. Pinch hitter Christina Roosmalen was hit by a pitch to load the base, but Marshall was able to work out of a bases loaded jam when LeJune hit into a fielder's choice.
After a three-up, three-down bottom for the Herd, Southern Miss added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Brown doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a deep fly ball by Britney Dinelt. After Mathis grounded out, Takeda drew a walk and got to second in a run down. Thurman then ripped a single back up the middle to plate Brown and Takeda to give the Eagles a 5-1 advantage.
Dietrich then retired the final three batters to end the game. Takeda led the Eagles with two hits.
Southern Miss travels to nationally ranked LSU on Wednesday, Apr. 30 for a 6 p.m. game.
