Southern Miss
Houston
Softball, Hogue Earn First Win at Sand Dollar Classic
2/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score vs. Jackson State | Box Score vs. Houston
GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Southern Miss softball team opened up the 2015 campaign with a two-game split at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Golden Eagles earned a 7-4 victory in the season opener against Jackson State, before falling 4-1 to Houston in game two.
The victory marked the first Division I win for first-year head coach Wendy Hogue, who was named the eighth head coach in program history in August.
On the day, the team batted .316, going 18-for-57 with a pair of doubles and a home run. Sarah Evans led the way, finishing 5-for-6 with a double and three runs scored. Katie Cleary ended the day with four hits, including a double. Mallory Hayden, Samantha Robles and Morgan McKeever each added a pair of hits apiece, while Kaelyn Christofferson, Selena Estrada and Tori Rouse each recorded base hits. Hayden finished the day with a home run - her first collegiate homer. Cleary led the way with four RBI, while Hayden added a pair of runs batted in.
In the circle, Shelbee Rodgers earned her first win of the season. The graduate student surrendered four runs (three earned runs) in 7.0 innings of work against Jackson State. Rodgers scattered four hits and six walks, while striking out eight batters. In game two, Robles was saddled with the loss. The sophomore allowed four runs (three earned runs) on four hits in 6.0 innings of work. Robles issued three free passes, while fanning a pair of batters.
Southern Miss continues play at the Sand Dollar Classic with a pair of games on Saturday. The Golden Eagles take on McNeese State at 12:00 p.m. before concluding the day against Lamar at 3:00 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
Game 1 vs. Jackson State:
In game one, the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead and held on for the first victory of the season. The Black and Gold outhit the Lady Tigers 10-to-4 with a pair of doubles and a home run.
Southern Miss jumped out to a lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Christofferson became the first base runner of 2015, drawing a walk in her first collegiate plate appearance. Sarah Evans followed with a single down the left field line. The ball was misplayed by the left fielder allowing Christofferson and Evans both to advance to scoring position. With runners on second and third, Cleary singled through the right side of the infield, driving in the first two runs of the game. On the play, Cleary advanced to second base. After a pitching change, Robles followed with a single giving the Golden Eagles with runners on the corners. McKeever extended the lead with a RBI single to right field.
Jackson State responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. The inning began with a walk and a hit by pitch, giving the Lady Tigers a pair of base runners with no outs. JSU attempted to steal third base and on the play, an errant throw allowed the first run to score. A second walk in the inning gave the Lady Tigers a pair of base runners. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Rodgers recorded the second out of the inning with a strikeout. The second run of the inning crossed the plate on a wild pitch, but Southern Miss ended the rally with an inning-ending strikeout.
Leading 3-2, the Golden Eagles extended their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Christofferson recorded her first collegiate hit, a single to right center. Evans was hit by a pitch and the two runners advanced a base on a passed ball. Cleary recorded a base-clearing double to push the USM lead to 5-2.
The Lady Tigers chipped into the lead with a run in the top of the third inning. The leadoff batter singled to left field and moved into scoring position with a stolen base. The runner advanced to third on a ground out. JSU used a sacrifice fly to plate the runner and trim the Southern Miss edge to 5-3.
The Golden Eagles got the run back in one swing. With one out, Hayden turned on a pitch and drove it over the left field wall. The home run was the first hit of the true freshman's career.
Southern Miss extended its lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Robles singled up the middle and was pinch ran for by Samantha Reynolds. McKeever followed with a walk, moving Reynolds into scoring position. Hayden dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. With two outs, Rouse recorded a pinch-hit single to score Reynolds and push the Black and Gold's advantage to 7-3.
Jackson State attempted a rally in the final inning. A single and a wild pitch gave the designated visiting team a runner in scoring position with no outs. The Lady Tigers used a RBI double to shrink the Golden Eagles' lead to just three. Rodgers induced a ground out for the first out before ending the game with back-to-back strikeouts, securing the first victory in the Wendy Hogue Era.
Game 2 vs. Houston:
In game two, Houston jumped out to a quick lead that they did not relinquish. The Cougars scored two runs in the first and second inning and survived a late rally by the Golden Eagles.
In the first inning, Houston's Selena Hernandez hit a two run home run to put the designated home team in front 2-0. The Cougars added a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. UH used a double and a pair of walks to load the bases. The next batter drove in a runner, reaching on a fielder's choice. An error on the play left the bases loaded for Houston. The Golden Eagles used a fielder's choice to retire the lead runner. The Cougars benefited from a bases loaded walk to extend the lead to 4-0.
Southern Miss mounted a rally in the top of the sixth inning. Reynolds pinch hit for the Golden Eagles and reached on a fielding error. Evans followed with a single to right center field and Cleary loaded the bases with a single to shallow left center field. Robles reached on a fielder's choice that saw the lead runner out at home. Hayden singled to right field, scoring Evans from third. With the bases loaded and one out, Bailey Stokes reached on a fielder's choice that once again saw the lead runner eliminated. The Cougars thwarted the Golden Eagles rally with a strikeout, leaving the bases loaded.
Southern Miss was unable to score the tying runs in the final inning, dropping a 4-1 decision.
