Southern Miss
LSU
Eagle Softball Team Lose 2-0 to No. 21 LSU
4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | Box Score in PDF Format 
Sophomore Gabby Luciani (2-5) took the loss in surrendering two runs, only one earned, on six hits with five strike outs. Starter Rachele Fico (13-9) earned the win as she gave up three hits in 4.0 innings of work with five strikeouts.
LSU put two runs on the board in the home half of the second as Morgan Russell led off the inning with a single just out of reach of Thurman. Alex Boulet came in to pinch run and stole second then third and scored off a single by Tiffany Shaw. Shaw then stole second, moved to third on Heyward's infield single but scored when the ball ricocheted off Chanell Thurman.
Southern Miss left three runners stranded in the top of the fourth as the Jill Mathis and Michelle Takeda drew consecutive walks to start the inning. Fico then got Thurman to pop out on a bunt attempt followed by striking out Alexis Hurley before Mackenzie Sher beat out an infield single to load the bases. Fico then got Brittany Lilly to foul out to second to end the inning.
The Golden Eagles missed an opportunity to put a run on the board when Leslie LeJune led off with a walk to start the top of the fifth and moved to second on a single by Taylor Brown. With one out, LSU's defense stepped up when Jacee Blades was able to field a ground ball that hit off Brittany Mack's glove for the inning ending double-play.
Southern Miss had another chance to score when Sher's hit landed on top of the fence and bounced back into play for a standup double to lead off the top of the seventh. Mack then struck out Lilly and got LeJune to ground out to first while pinch runner Stephanie Shiflet advanced to third. Brown was able to work the count full before striking out to end the game.
The Golden Eagles collected five hits but stranded eight runners in the game.
Southern Miss wraps up its seven-game road trip when the Eagles travel to UCF for a three-game C-USA series, Apr. 30 and May 1. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 12 p.m. (CDT) with Sunday's single game set for 11 a.m.
