Southern Miss
Southeastern Louisiana
Evans' Grand Slam Not Enough as SLU Upends Softball
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HAMMOND, La. - The Southern Miss softball team fell behind early and was unable to recover, dropping a 12-6 decision on the road to Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday afternoon at the North Oak Park in Hammond, La.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles tallied six runs on 11 hits, including a grand slam by Sarah Evans. For Evans, the grand slam was the second home run of her Southern Miss career. Prior to the game with SLU, Evans' lone home run came last season on the road at UTEP on March 9, 2014.
Morgan McKeever led the team with three hits on the day, while Evans and Katie Cleary each added a pair of hits apiece. Evans paced the team with four RBI and McKeever added a pair. Six different players scored a run in the contest.
In the circle, Danielle Block earned the start and was charged with the loss. Block allowed five runs on four hits and a walk in a third of an inning. She gave way to Shelbee Rodgers. The senior surrendered six runs, scattering eight hits in 4.0 innings of work. Samantha Robles tossed the final 1.2 innings. She allowed a run on four hits. Rodgers led the team with five strikeouts, while Robles added a pair.
Southeastern was the first team to score, plating a pair runs in the bottom of the first inning. The leadoff batter singled to third base and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. The following batter tripled off the left center field wall to score the lead runner and put the home team up 1-0. A walk put runners on the corners with just one out and a RBI single up the middle doubled the Lions' lead. With two on and one out, SLU's Vanessa Eng put the Lions ahead 5-0 on one swing, hitting a three-run home run down the right field line. The Golden Eagles went to the bullpen. After surrendering a walk, Rodgers recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and halt the Lions' rally.
Southern Miss cut into the deficit in the top of the second inning. Cleary led off the inning with a single to shallow left field. Mallory Hayden bunted for a single to give the Golden Eagles a pair of base runners. Selena Estrada followed with a walk to load the bases with no outs. Following a strikeout, the Lions used a fielder's choice to eliminate the lead runner. With bases loaded and two outs, McKeever delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to put Southern Miss on the scoreboard.
The Lions increased their advantage with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The leadoff batter started the inning with a single. She came around to score on a triple to left center by Kinsey Nichols. On the play, Nichols scored on an errant throw by Southern Miss. SLU used back-to-back singles and a wild pitch to place a pair of runners in scoring position. The lead runner scored on a RBI groundout, pushing the score to 8-2.
Down by six in the top of the fifth inning, the Golden Eagles rallied to cut the SLU lead to just two. McKeever singled to left field and Samantha Reynolds followed with a single to right field. Kaelyn Christofferson loaded the bases as the Lions mishandled a ball. With the bases loaded and no outs, Evans lifted a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence to cut the home team's lead to 8-6.
Southeastern Louisiana responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, the Lions used a walk and a bunt single to place a pair of runners on base. With two on and one out, Sydney Booker tripled down the right field line to score a pair of runs. Following a pitching change, SLU scored the final run of the inning with a single through the right side of the infield.
The Lions used a leadoff solo home run by Lacey Fritz to provide the final margin of victory at 12-6.
Southern Miss returns to action on Friday, Feb. 20 as the Golden Eagles host Mississippi Valley State (6:00 p.m.) in the first home game of the season. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
