Southern Miss
Alcorn State
Softball Sweeps Alcorn in Doubleheader
3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team posted a pair of victories on Wednesday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex against in-state opponent Alcorn State. The Golden Eagles notched an 8-3 win in game one before posting a 12-0 five-inning run-rule victory in game two.
With the win, the Black and Gold improved to 15-7 overall, including an 8-2 mark at home. The Lady Braves fell to 2-9 on the season.
As a team, Southern Miss hit .420, going 21-for-50 with four doubles, a triple and a home run. The Golden Eagles scored 20 runs and posted 14 RBI. Six different players recorded multiple hits on the night. Tori Rouse led the team with a 1.000 batting average, finishing 3-for-3 with her first collegiate double, two runs scored and two RBI. Sarah Evans and Morgan McKeever each had four hits apiece, while Katie Cleary and Bailey Stokes each added three hits each. Kaelyn Christofferson finished with two hits. McKeever, Stokes and Arielle Pollock each finished the day with doubles, while Evans recorded a triple. Stokes also hit her third home run of the season.
In the circle, Shelbee Rodgers worked a complete game in game one, while Danielle Block and Emily Wood combined for the shutout in game two.
Rodgers tossed 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. The senior posted a career-high 15 strikeouts on the night. Rodgers struck out the side three times and had at least one strikeout in each inning.
In game two, Block earned the victory, working 4.0 innings. The sophomore had her no-hit bid broken up in the fourth inning with an infield single. Block struck out five batters, while walking just two. She gave way to Wood in the fifth inning. Wood fanned all three batters she faced, notching a new personal best.
Southern Miss concludes its homestand with a single game on Thursday against Cleveland State. Game time is slated for 5:00 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
Game One Recap
Southern Miss was the team to score, plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning. McKeever singled to left field to start off the game. Evans reached on a fielder's choice. McKeever advanced to second safely on a fielding error by Alcorn. Jordan Beck followed with a walk, loading the bases with one out. Cleary singled to left field, driving in a pair of runners. Mallory Hayden continued the inning with a walk to load the bases for the second time. Stokes drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. Michelle Stringer reached base on a fielder's choice. On the play, Alcorn committed a second error that allowed Hayden to score and give Southern Miss an early 4-0 lead.
Alcorn State rallied in the third inning to chip into the Southern Miss lead. The Lady Braves used a single and an error to place runners on the corners with no outs. A fielder's choice loaded the bases for ASU. The Lady Braves got on the scoreboard with a RBI walk. Alcorn used a single and a RBI groundout to score two runs and cut the deficit to 4-3. Rodgers ended the inning with a strikeout to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third, the Golden Eagles responded with a run. Cleary led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. Stokes singled to center field, leaving runners on the corners. Stokes stole second and Stringer walked to load the bases. Christofferson delivered a RBI single to left field to score Cleary and push the lead to 5-3.
The Black and Gold added a run in the fourth inning. Evans was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a one-out single by Cleary. On the play, Cleary moved to second base on the throw to third. Evans came home on a wild pitch, doubling up the Lady Braves, 6-3.
Southern Miss provided the final margin of victory with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Peyton Garner was hit by a pitch. She stole second base to move into scoring position and advanced to third on a fly ball. Pollock reached base on a fielding error that allowed Garner to score from third. Evans followed with a triple, driving home Pollock and extending the advantage to 8-3.
Game Two Recap
In game two, the Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.
Southern Miss plated eight runs in the first inning to take control of the game. McKeever led off the game with a double to left center field. Samantha Reynolds followed with a walk. Evans singled off of the pitcher and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Lady Braves. McKeever and Reynolds came around to score on the play, while Evans stopped at third base. Cleary drove home Evans on a sacrifice fly to center field. Christofferson continued the inning with a two-out single to third base. She stole second to move into scoring position. Rouse followed with a RBI single to right center field. Rouse came home on a Stokes two-run home run - the team-leading third homer of the season for the sophomore transfer. Garner was hit by a pitch, turning the lineup back over to McKeever who recorded her second hit of the inning. With runners on the corners, Reynolds singled to right field to score Garner. Evans singled up the middle to extend the inning and drive home McKeever for an 8-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles added a run in the second and third innings. In the second, Christofferson reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on Rouse's first collegiate double. In the third, McKeever singled to start the inning. A walk and a single moved McKeever to third base. Cleary's second sacrifice fly of the game scored McKeever from third and give the Black and Gold double-digit runs for the fourth time this season.
Southern Miss added two runs in the fourth inning. With one out, Rouse singled down the right field line. She came home on a Stokes double down the left field line. Rachel Johnson entered the game to run for Stokes at second base. R. Johnson came home to score on back-to-back wild pitches.
Wood entered the game in the top of the fifth to close out the game. The pitcher notched a career high three strikeouts, punching out three consecutive batters on strikes in a 1-2-3 inning.
