University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Opens Season at Sand Dollar Classic
2/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team kicks off the 2015 season at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Golden Eagles open the season on Friday, Feb. 6 against Jackson State at 12:00 p.m. before taking on Houston (3:00 p.m.) The Black and Gold continue the weekend on Saturday against McNeese State (12:00 p.m.) and Lamar (3:00 p.m.) before concluding the tournament on Sunday versus Florida Gulf Coast (12:00 p.m.).
Southern Miss boasts a good balance of veterans and newcomers. The Golden Eagles have a pair of seniors on the squad - Shelbee Rodgers and Priscilla Burns. In addition, the Black and Gold have five juniors - Katie Cleary, Sarah Evans, Morgan McKeever, Michelle Stringer and Emily Wood - and nine sophomores - Danielle Block, Bragan Burns, Selena Estrada, Peyton Garner, Jenifer Gary, Rachel Johnson, Arielle Pollock, Samantha Robles, Tori Rouse and transfer Bailey Stokes. In addition to Stokes, Southern Miss also welcomed five true freshmen to the team this season - Jordan Beck, Kaelyn Christofferson, Mallory Hayden, Jillian Johnson and Samantha Reynolds.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles return over 70-percent of its production - 72-percent of runs, 75-percent of hits and 71-percent of RBI and total bases. Southern Miss also returns 67-percent of its doubles from the previous season and 44-percent of the home runs.
In the circle, all three starters return and 100-percent of the team's wins, complete games and saves return. In addition, 94-percent of the innings pitched and 95-percent of the strikeouts return for the 2015 season.
