Southern Miss
Middle Tennessee
Cleary's Home Run Not Enough as Softball Edged
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A day after hitting her first collegiate home run, junior Katie Cleary blasted a second two-run home run, but it was not enough as the Southern Miss softball team was edged 5-3 by Middle Tennessee in the series finale of a three-game Conference USA weekend at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
Cleary was one of six different Golden Eagle players to record a hit on the day. Morgan McKeever, Mallory Hayden, Selena Estrada, Arielle Pollock and Michelle Stringer each added hits on the day. Cleary, Stringer, Rachel Johnson and Tori Rouse each drew walks to also reach base on the day. Cleary hit her second home run of the series and season, while Estrada belted her fourth double of the season in the game.
In the circle, Shelbee Rodgers was charged with the loss. The senior tossed 4.2 innings, scattering six hits and allowing five runs. She walked two and struck out two. Rodgers was hurt by one bad inning that featured three two-out singles to load the bases and a home run. She gave way to Jillian Johnson in the fifth inning. J. Johnson allowed a walk, a hit and a hit batter in 2.1 scoreless inning of work. Four of the seven outs she recorded came by strikeouts.
Middle Tennessee was the first team to score, plating four runs in the top of the second inning on one swing. With two outs, the Blue Raiders pieced together three consecutive singles to load the bases. MT's Marinna Shadley cleared the bases with a grand slam, putting the visitors ahead 4-0.
Southern Miss threatened in the bottom of the inning. Estrada double to left field with one out. Pollock followed with a single to shortstop. After the throw from short to first was made, Estrada broke for third base. The MT first baseman threw to third and although Estrada looked to have slid under the tag, she was ruled out on the play. Stringer continued the inning with a single to right center field, but a pop up ended the inning and the threat.
The Golden Eagles cut the deficit in half in the third inning. R. Johnson drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Cleary blasted a home run to right field to put Southern Miss on the scoreboard. The home run was Cleary's second of her career and the second of the series against the Blue Raiders.
The Blue Raiders added a run in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Middle Tennessee used a single and a walk to place a pair of runners on base. The Golden Eagles went to the bullpen to bring in J. Johnson. The Blue Raiders used a hit batter and a walk to score the lead runner. J. Johnson ended the inning with a strikeout looking, stopping the threat.
In the sixth inning, Southern Miss brought the tying run to the plate three consecutive times. Cleary led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. Peyton Garner entered to pinch run at first base. Hayden singled up the middle off of the pitcher's glove to put a pair of runners on base. Samantha Reynolds entered to run at first base. With speed on the bases, Garner and Reynolds advanced on a groundout, but the runners would go no further as a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning.
The Golden Eagles tried to rally in the seventh inning. Stringer leadoff the inning with a walk. She advanced into scoring position on a groundout to second base. McKeever looked to hit a ball down the right field line for extra bases, but the ball was ruled just foul. The next pitch saw the Blue Raiders getting a groundout to first. On the play, Stringer advanced to third. She came around to score on a wild pitch, trimming the margin to 5-3. Rouse pinch hit and drew a walk to extend the inning. With the tying run at the plate, Middle Tennessee induced a groundout to end the game.
Southern Miss returns to action on Wednesday with a single game at home against South Alabama. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. at the Softball Complex. Live stats, live video and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
