Southern Miss
Central Arkansas
Softball Drops Pair of Games at Sand Dollar Classic
2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1 vs. Florida A&M) | Box Score (Game 1 vs. Florida A&M) 
Box Score (Game 2 vs. Central Arkansas) | Box Score (Game 2 vs. Central Arkansas)
GULF SHORES, Ala. -- The Southern Miss softball team fell in a pair of games at the Sand Dollar Classic. The Golden Eagles (0-2) opened the day with an extra-inning game, being edged 9-7 in eight innings by Florida A&M. The Black and Gold dropped a 9-0 decision in five innings to Central Arkansas in the nightcap.
On the day, Southern Miss tallied 10 hits, including three doubles. Morgan McKeever paced the team with three hits, followed by Rachel Johnson who went .500 on the day with a pair of base hits. R. Johnson led the team with three runs scored, while Sarah Evans drove home a team-best two runners.
In the circle, three pitchers saw action for the Golden Eagles. The pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts on the day. In game one, Danielle Block and Jillian Johnson combined for eight innings and eight Ks, while Samantha Robles tossed a complete game with three strikeouts in the second game.
Southern Miss returns to action at the Sand Dollar Classic on Saturday, Feb. 13. The Golden Eagles begin the day at 12 p.m. with a game against Ball State. The Black and Gold conclude the day with a game versus Belmont at 3 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets will be available throughout the games. NOTE: Southern Miss will be the designated visiting team for both games.
Game 1 Recap -- Rattlers Rally to Edge Softball in Extras
The Southern Miss softball team was edged 9-7 in eight innings against Florida A&M in the opening game of the 2016 season. The Golden Eagles trailed 2-0 before the first USM batter came to the plate. However, Southern Miss rallied to take a 5-2 advantage. An error filled inning allowed the Rattlers to tie the score at 5-5 in the fifth inning. Both teams scored a run in the sixth inning and the two teams entered extra innings knotted at 6-6. In the eighth inning and the international tie-breaker rule in effect, FAMU used a three-run homer to regain the lead. The Golden Eagles scored a run in the bottom of the inning, but were unable to close the gap, falling by two.
Morgan McKeever paced the offense in the first game, finishing 2-for-4. Evans, Samantha Papp, and Michelle Stringer made their hits count, each delivering doubles in the game. Evans led the team with a pair of RBI, while R. Johnson scored a team-high three runs in the game.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles used a pair of pitchers. Block earned the start. The junior allowed five runs (two earned runs) on five hits with one walk, finishing with six strikeouts -- one K shy of her a career high. J. Johnson relieved Block. She was charged with four runs (three earned) in 3.0 innings of work with a walk and two strikeouts.
Florida A&M jumped out to the early lead. The leadoff batter drew a walk and the Rattlers followed with a single up the middle. FAMU used a pair of stolen bases to move both runners into scoring position. Block struck out the next batter to record the first out of the inning. A hit batter loaded the bases, but a second K put the Golden Eagles one out away from escaping any runs allowed. Keny Pereira singled to center field to score a pair of runners, but Block closed the door on any further runs with her third strikeout of the inning.
Southern Miss cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the second inning. Katie Cleary led off the inning with a single to center field. Papp followed with a walk, moving Cleary into scoring position. McKeever continued the inning with an infield single to load the bases. With two outs, R. Johnson drew a walk to score the first run of the season for the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Tori Dew drew to put the tying run on base. With two outs, Papp double to left field, scoring Dew and knotting the score at 2-2.
In the fourth, Southern Miss took its first lead of the day. Stringer started the inning with a two-bagger to left field. Kaelyn Christofferson walked to give the designated home team a pair of base runners. R. Johnson reached base on a fielding error by the shortstop. On the play, Stringer came around to score on a throwing error by the second baseman. With runners on second and third, Evans doubled to left center field to extend the Golden Eagle lead to 5-2.
FAMU benefited off of some Southern Miss miscues in the fifth inning to make the score 5-5. With one out, the Rattlers used a single and a fielding error to place a pair of runners on base. A single and an error allowed a run to score. A third error in the inning allowed a second run to come home. J. Johnson entered the game to pitch and struck out the first batter she faced. A single scored the tying run, but a fielder's choice ended the inning.
The Rattlers scored a go-ahead run in the sixth. With one out, FAMU used back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases. J. Johnson induced a ground ball to short and Lauren Holifield alertly went home to retire the lead runner. A single scored the go-ahead run, but a groundout ended the inning and the threat.
The Golden Eagles tied the game for the second time with a run in the bottom of the frame. R. Johnson singled through the right side of the infield to start things off. Evans and Dew walked to load the bases with one out. Cleary drove a ball to center field, which was deep enough to score R. Johnson from third and tie the game.
The game went into extra innings knotted at 6-6. The international tie-breaker rules were in effect so the Rattlers placed a runner on second base to start the inning. FAMU dropped down a bunt single, leaving runners at the corners. FAMU's Jessica Nathan hit a home run to left field to give the Rattlers the lead, 9-6.
The Golden Eagles placed R. Johnson on second base to start the bottom of the eighth inning. Holifield singled to score R. Johnson, but was caught in a run down for the first out of the inning. The Rattlers were able to induce a pair of pop ups to close the game.
Game 2 Recap -- Softball Upended by Central Arkansas
The Southern Miss softball team suffered a 9-0 setback in five innings against Central Arkansas in the second game of the Sand Dollar Classic.
The Golden Eagles struggled at the plate, recording just a pair of hits. McKeever and R. Johnson each had a base hit in the game, while R. Johnson, Holifield, and Papp each reached base via walks.
In the circle, Samantha Robles tossed a complete game. The redshirt sophomore was charged with nine runs (four earned runs) on eight hits. She issued five walks, while striking out three batters.
Central Arkansas jumped out to a quick lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The leadoff batter doubled to start the game. The next batter followed with an infield single, leaving runners on first and second. The Bears used a two-RBI double to score the first runs of the game. The batter tried to stretch the double into a triple, but was gunned out at third base for the first out of the inning. The next batter singled, but a ground out and a fly ball ended the inning with UCA in front 2-0.
The Bears extended their lead with five runs on four hits in the second inning. The inning was highlighted for UCA with a grand slam by Jessie Taylor, pushing the advantage to 7-0 after an inning and a half.
UCA added the final two runs of the game in the fourth as Taylor hit her second home run of the game. The Bears' Taylor finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs, two runs scored and a game-high six RBI.
The Golden Eagles missed several opportunities in the game, stranding five runners on base. Southern Miss was unable to extend the game, dropping the 9-0 decision.
