University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Mississippi Valley State
Hogue, Softball Open Home Slate With Win
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team opened the 2015 home schedule with a 5-2 victory over in-state opponent Mississippi Valley State on Friday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The win was the first home victory for first-year head coach Wendy Hogue.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles tallied seven hits on the night. Mallory Hayden and Morgan McKeever paced the offense with two hits apiece. Samantha Reynolds, Jordan Beck and Michelle Stringer each added base hits for the Black and Gold. Hayden led the offense with a pair of runs batted in, while also adding a run scored. Katie Cleary, who leads the team in RBI, added to her total with a run batted in, while McKeever and Selena Estrada also added RBI in the game. Estrada, Reynolds, Hayden, Sarah Evans and Arielle Pollock all scored in the contest.
In the circle, Shelbee Rodgers picked up her third victory of the season. The Central, La. native surrendered a pair of runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work. Rodgers allowed a pair of walks, while striking out six. The senior opened up the game with three consecutive strikeouts in the first inning.
Samantha Robles came in to close out the game. She entered with the bases loaded and one out, but struck out the next two batters to end the inning and the threat. Robles closed out the game, working the final 1.2 without allowing a base hit or a walk. She faced the minimum and struck out a pair.
Southern Miss was the first team to score, plating four runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Estrada drew a walk and Reynolds followed with a bunt single. Evans was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cleary drove home the first run with a RBI groundout. Hayden followed with a single to right center field. On the play, Reynolds and Evans came around to score, pushing the Southern Miss lead to 3-0. McKeever continued the inning with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring Hayden.
Mississippi Valley State responded with a run in the top of the fourth inning. The leadoff batter reached base on a throwing error by the Golden Eagles. MVSU's Ikeyia Alexander doubled to left field. Reynolds picked up the ball and threw it to Hayden who fired it home. Catcher Bailey Stokes applied the tag at the plate to the lead runner for the first out of the inning. On the play, Alexander advanced to third. She came in to score on a RBI groundout. The Devilettes continued the inning with a double and a single, but with runners on the corners, Rodgers induced an inning-ending line out to second base.
The Devilettes chipped into the lead with a run in the top of the sixth inning. Alexander was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. The next batter singled to shallow center field, just out of the reach of a diving Rachel Johnson. On the play, both players were able to advance into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases with no outs. The following batter was called out by the umpire for taking too long to enter the batter's box for the first out of the inning. MVSU's Brandi Williams followed with a RBI single to shortstop. The Golden Eagles went to the bullpen and brought in Robles with the bases loaded and one out. The sophomore struck out each of the next two batters on three straight pitches to close out the inning and end the threat.
The Golden Eagles got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Stringer started off the inning with a single up the middle. Pollock entered the game to pinch run for Stringer and she advanced to second on a groundout. Pollock moved to third on a passed ball by the MVSU catcher and came home on a RBI groundout by Estrada.
Robles sat the Devilettes down in order in the final inning to secure the 5-2 victory and earn her first collegiate save.
Southern Miss and Mississippi Valley State return to the diamond to conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The twin bill is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
