Southern Miss
UTSA
Softball Rallies for 5-4 Victory Over UTSA
3/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team rallied from a 4-1 deficit for a 5-4 victory over UTSA on Sunday afternoon at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to claim their first Conference USA victory in the Wendy Hogue Era.
Southern Miss improved to 13-7 overall and 1-2 in C-USA play, while UTSA fell to 17-6 overall and 2-1 in the league.
Pitching and defense kept the Black and Gold in the game against the hot-hitting Roadrunners. Jillian Johnson got the start in the circle. The freshman scattered seven hits in 4.0 innings of work. J. Johnson allowed four runs (three earned runs) and walked three batters. Danielle Block entered the game in relief. The sophomore allowed no runs on one hit in three innings of work. Block struck out two batters and did not issue a free pass in the game, earning her third victory of the season.
Offensively, Southern Miss scored five runs on eight hits. Morgan McKeever and Katie Cleary led the way with two hits apiece. Cleary led the way with three RBI, including knocking in the game-tying and game-winning runs. Selena Estrada drove in a pair of runs with a pinch hit single, closing the gap in the bottom of the fifth inning. McKeever led the team with two runs scored and Bailey Stokes drew a team-best three walks in the game.
UTSA was the first team to score. The Roadrunners' Kendall Burton led off the game with a triple to center field to start off the game. The next batter was hit by a pitch, but the Golden Eagles caught her trying to steal second for the first out of the inning. Following a walk, UTSA used a single through the left side of the infield to take an early 1-0 lead. Southern Miss escaped the inning with a fielder's choice and a groundout.
In the bottom of the first, Southern Miss tied the score at 1-1. With one out, Arielle Pollock singled to second base to give Southern Miss a base runner. Jordan Beck followed with a two-out single up the middle, moving Pollock into scoring position. Cleary plated Pollock with a RBI single up the middle, knotting the score at 1-1.
The Roadrunners regained the lead in the top of the second. UTSA used a fielding error by Southern Miss to place a runner on first. Following an out, the Roadrunners moved the runner with a single to left field. Mallory Hayden dove and caught a foul ball for the second out of the inning, but the lead runner was able to advance to third on the play. The inning continued as a walk loaded the bases. UTSA's Megan Low singled through the left side of the infield to retake the lead 2-1.
UTSA increased its advantage to 3-1 with a run in the third. After retiring the first batter of the inning, the Golden Eagles surrendered back-to-back doubles to allow the Roadrunners to increase their lead to two runs.
In the fifth, the Roadrunners added a run. The leadoff batter walked to get things started. The next batter singled through the left side of the infield to give the visitors a pair of base runners. The Golden Eagles went to the bullpen and brought in Block to pitch. Block induced a fly ball for out number one and struck out the next batter. UTSA used a single up the middle to score the lead runner and increase its advantage to 4-1. The Golden Eagles used a fly ball to end the inning down by just three.
Southern Miss began the rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. McKeever led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. She advanced to second on a groundout. With two outs, Beck drew a free pass. Samantha Reynolds entered the game to run at first base for Beck. Cleary drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Following a pitching change, Estrada stepped into the batter's box and delivered a two-run pinch-hit single to cut the UTSA lead to 4-3.
The Golden Eagles took the lead for the first time in the game with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Kaelyn Christofferson started the inning with a pinch-hit single back to the pitcher. McKeever dropped down a bunt down the third base line, beating the throw for an infield single. With one out, Sarah Evans reached base on a fielder's choice. On the play, McKeever slid underneath the tag at second base, leaving the bases loaded with just one out. Following a fielder's choice that retired the lead runner, Cleary singled to center field just out of reach of a diving Roadrunner. McKeever and Evans came in to score, giving Southern Miss its first lead of the day.
In the seventh inning, Block notched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the game and secure the 5-4 victory for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss returns to action with three midweek games at the Softball Complex. The Golden Eagles host Alcorn State in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 11, before taking on Cleveland State in a single game on Thursday. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
