Southern Miss
Marshall
Golden Eagle Softballers Split Saturday Doubleheader with Marshall
4/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2012
Box Score: Game 1 | Box Score: Game 2 | Photo Gallery 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Carissa Turang laced a two-out game-winning single in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Conference USA foe Marshall to avoid the sweep and improve their standings in the conference race at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
In the day's first game, Southern Miss took a 2-0 lead but fell 6-2 after a six-run sixth inning rally from Marshall.
For the final game of the series, Turang went 3-for-4 at the plate including her final single to the gap to drive in Leslie LeJune from second to give Southern Miss a 3-2 victory.
"I was just thrilled to see our girls continue to fight," said co-head coach Jon Malgradi. "We talked about it during the Memphis series and they showed it today. We never gave up and continued to fight throughout the entire series. Beth Dietrich has pitched phenomenally over the past 16 or so innings and our freshman hitters really took care of business at the plate."
Game 1:
Leslie LeJune got the Golden Eagles going in the fourth with a one-out double to the gap in left-center. Following a Thundering Herd fielding error, Mackenzie Sher knocked her in with a single deep in the hole to the shortstop. Brittany Lilly followed in form with a single to left field to add another Golden Eagle run.
In the fifth, a pair of consecutive bunt singles got a pair of base runners on for Southern Miss but Marshall pitcher Erin Bennett rebounded and held the runners from advancing any further.
Marshall responded in the sixth with a one-out triple from Jasmine Valle on the first pitch she saw from relief pitcher Gabby Luciani. The Herd added three more runs in the inning to take a 6-2 lead.
Southern Miss went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Herd held on for the series clinching victory.
Gabby Luciani (2-5) took the loss for Southern Miss after giving up the triple that put the Herd ahead. Erika Bennett (2-1) earned the victory on 1.2 innings of work while giving up two hits and striking out one Golden Eagle.
Game 2:
As they had done in each of the previous two games, the Golden Eagles were the first on the board, this time in the first inning.
Marshall starter Andi Williamson worked herself into a bases loaded jam, and Brittany Lilly's grounder to the second baseman was relayed back to the catcher too high to allow the first run to score. Carissa Turang followed up with a looping single to shallow center field to make it 2-0.
In the third, Marshall plated a two-out run on a pop up that third baseman Brittany Lilly appeared to lose in the sun.
The Thundering Herd threatened again in the top of the sixth, when Rebecca Gamby's hit to the gap fell in left center but LeJune hit Turang on a rope at second base to keep Gamby off the bases and end the inning.
Marshall tied the game in the seventh for the second time in the three-game series on a one-out sacrifice fly from Jessica Ferrick to bring in Kristina Braxton from third.
In the bottom of the frame, the Golden Eagles put their first two batters aboard and following a pair of fly outs, Turang laced her third hit of the day into left center for the game winning single.
Beth Dietrich (6-9) earned the complete game victory while allowing two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Williamson (15-10) suffered the loss on 6.2 innings of work. She scattered nine hits and gave up three runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking one.
The Golden Eagles will return to the field on Saturday, April 14 when they play host to South Alabama. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
