Southern Miss
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Softball Routs UAPB in Opening Game of Lion Classic II
2/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HAMMOND, La. - The Southern Miss softball team opened up the Lion Classic II with a 24-1 run-rule victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday afternoon at the North Oak Park in Hammond, La. The Golden Eagles (3-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning and never looked back.
The 24 runs was the most since the Black and Gold scored a school-record 29 runs against North Carolina Central (W, 29-2) on Feb. 28, 2009. Southern Miss scored at least one run in every inning, notching a season-best nine runs in the third. The Golden Eagles sent eight or more batters to the plate in four different innings, batting around in the first, third and fifth innings.
Southern Miss collected 19 hits in the game, including five doubles, two triples and three home runs.
Transfer Bailey Stokes paced the team, finishing 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles, three runs scored and six runs batted in. The sophomore tied Jennifer Fox (vs. McNeese State, Feb. 28, 2006) and Courtney Blades (vs. Georgia Tech, Mar. 10, 1999) for most RBI in a game. Stokes tied Megan Hill (vs. Louisiana Tech, Feb. 24, 2007) for most in program history with 12 total bases in the game. In addition, Stokes became the most recent Golden Eagle to notch a school-record two home runs in a game.
Stokes was not the only Golden Eagle with multiple hits in the game. She was joined by Selena Estrada, Katie Cleary, Mallory Hayden and Michelle Stringer who each recorded two hits apiece. Arielle Pollock, Sarah Evans, Rachel Johnson, Jenifer Gary, Morgan McKeever, Peyton Garner and Tori Rouse each added base hits in the game. Gary, Hayden and Stringer each recorded doubles in the game, while Evans and Garner both added a triple. Estrada connected on her first home run of the season in the win.
The offensive performance nearly overshadowed a stellar effort in the circle by senior Shelbee Rodgers. The Central, La. native allowed just one run on one hit in 5.0 innings of action. Rodgers walked two, while tying a season-high with eight strikeouts. The fireballer faced just two batters over the minimum and notched three 1-2-3 innings.
Southern Miss, who was the designated visiting team in the game, started the game with four runs on just two hits. Estrada led off the game with a walk and stole second base to move into scoring position. Evans drew a one-out walk and the duo advanced on a groundout to second. Hayden put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard with a two-run double through the right side of the infield. McKeever followed with a single up the middle to score Hayden from second. McKeever advanced on a wild pitch and Stokes followed with a walk. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases as Stringer drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Rouse reached base on a walk, earning a RBI and putting the Black and Gold ahead 4-0.
The Golden Eagles doubled their lead in the top of the second inning. Samantha Reynolds reached on a fielding error by the Lady Lions and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. The freshman came around to score as Evans tripled to right center field. For Evans, it was her sixth career triple, tying the junior for eighth all-time in program history with Michelle MacKay (1989-92) and Trish Leidy (1989-90). Cleary drove home Evans with a RBI single through the right side of the infield. With a runner on first and two outs, Stokes drove a ball over the left field fence for her first hit as a Golden Eagle - a two-run home run.
The Lady Lions used a solo home run by Page Garcia to break up the no-hitter and the shutout in the bottom of the second inning. The hit would be the only allowed by Rodgers in the game.
Southern Miss broke the game wide open in the top of the third, scoring nine runs on seven hits. The Golden Eagles benefited from a UAPB error in the inning and also drew a pair of walks. The Black and Gold sent 13 people to the plate in the inning, marking the most total batters in an inning this season. The inning was highlighted by back-to-back doubles by Stokes and Stringer.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the fourth inning and six runs in the fifth inning to cap off the 24-run game. In the fourth, Stokes hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot to left center field. In the sixth, Southern Miss tallied six runs on five hits and two errors. Gary and Stokes each provided doubles in the inning, while Garner laced a triple to right center field. Gary and Garner each tallied two RBI apiece in the inning.
Southern Miss returns to action in the Lion Classic II with a pair of games on Saturday. The Golden Eagles square off against Houston Baptist at 10:00 a.m., before a rematch with Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 12:00 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
