University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Slated for Trio of Midweek Games
3/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team is set to host Alcorn State and Cleveland State this week in a trio of midweek games at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The Golden Eagles are slated to host the Lady Braves in a doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 4:00 p.m., before taking on the Vikings in a single game on Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday's doubleheader will feature Softball Bingo. In addition, the first 100 fans in attendance will receive a free Southern Miss spirit band. On Thursday, all fans get in FREE for Fan Appreciation Night.
Southern Miss enters the week 13-7 overall, including a 12-5 nonconference mark. Alcorn State is 2-7 overall and has not played a game since Feb. 12 due to inclement weather. Cleveland State is 10-5 heading into the week. The Vikings were slated to play Louisiana Tech (Tuesday) and Southeastern Louisiana (Wednesday) before playing the Golden Eagles, but weather forced a cancellation of the game with LA Tech.
The Golden Eagles have a 9-1 (.900) overall record against the Lady Braves. Southern Miss is 5-1 against Alcorn at home and 4-0 on the road and at neutral sites. The series began during the 2004 season with the Black and Gold earning a 5-0 victory at the Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. Southern Miss won the second meeting in 2007 before dropping a 4-1 decision during the 2008 season. Since the loss, the Golden Eagles have recorded seven consecutive victories over the Lady Braves, allowing two runs or less in each game and posting three shutouts. During the stretch, Southern Miss has outscored Alcorn, 48-5.
The game between Southern Miss and Cleveland State will mark the first meeting between the two teams. The Vikings are members of the Horizon League. The Golden Eagles are 8-3 (.727) all-time against current members of the Horizon League. This season, the Black and Gold swept a doubleheader with Horizon League member Detroit to improve to 5-1 against the Titans all-time. The Golden Eagles have also faced Oakland (2-2) and UIC (1-0) out of the Horizon League.
Scouting the Opposition:
Alcorn State: The Lady Braves are 2-7 on the season and have not played a game since Feb. 12 due to inclement weather. Alcorn won their last two games, defeating Kentucky State in a home doubleheader.
Cleveland State: The Vikings opened the season 10-5 and will play Southeastern Louisiana prior to taking on Southern Miss. Cleveland State is 3-0 at home and 7-5 in games played on the road.
