Southern Miss
Memphis
Softball Drops Final Game, 3-1, on Senior Day
5/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 8, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss softball team fell 3-1 to Memphis Sunday afternoon to wrap up the regular season.
The Golden Eagles (17-37, 4-20 C-USA) will head to Greenville, N.C., to participate in the Conference USA Championship May 12-14.
Southern Miss threaten in the home half of the second when Michelle Takeda drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a base hit by Alexis Hurley before Memphis' starter Carly Hummel retired the final two batters.
Memphis (35-11, 15-7) took a 2-0 lead in the third when Kailey Kassner walked to set up Heather Mott's two-run homer.
The Tigers added a run in the fifth as Alyssa Palmieri led of with a base hit to center. Ijiah Hargrove reached on a fielder's choice, putting Palmieri out at second. Alex Marshall and Mott followed with singles to load the bases with two outs before Lelani Bernardino's sacrifice fly plated Hargrove for a 3-0 lead.
Southern Miss finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the seventh to avoid its ninth shutout when Takeda and Hurley recorded back-to-back singles. With two outs, pinch hitter Danielle LaPointe was able to reach base after Memphis' second baseman could not handle to the throw, allowing Takeda to score from second for a 3-1 score. Hummel then retired Brittany Lilly on a ground out back to her for the final out.
Beth Dietrich (10-18) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and three strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Hurley led the Eagles with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Hummel (20-5) got the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits and striking out four in 7.0 innings. Moth was 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Southern Miss will open the C-USA Tournament against top seed Houston at 6 p.m. (CDT) on Thursday, May 12.
