Southern Miss
Alabama State
Softball Opens Home Slate with Sweep
2/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 1) 
Box Score (Game 2) | Box Score (Game 2)
Photo Gallery 
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss softball team swept a doubleheader with Alabama State on Wednesday night at the Southern Miss Softball Complex to open the home slate of the schedule. The Golden Eagles scored five runs in the third inning of game one to post a 5-1 victory, while outscoring the Lady Hornets in a 10-8 win in the night cap.
The Golden Eagles batted .362 as a team, going 21-for-58 in the twin bill. As a team, the Black and Gold notched five doubles and the first triple of the season for a .483 slugging percentage. Southern Miss also took advantage of 10 walks in the two games for an on-base percentage of .456.
Katie Cleary led the team with four hits on the night, followed by Samantha Reynolds, Sarah Evans, and Rachel Johnson who each posted three hits. Cleary recorded a pair of doubles on the night and led all batters with six RBI. Morgan McKeever, Lauren Holifield, Michelle Stringer each added doubles, while Reynolds posted the team's first triple of the season.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles used a trio of pitchers in the doubleheader. Samantha Robles tossed a complete game in the first contest, picking up a victory, allowing one unearned run in seven innings of work. Danielle Block started game two, tossing 3.2 innings and striking out four batters. She gave way to Jillian Johnson who earned her first win of the season, working 0.1 innings. Robles closed out the second game, tossing the final three innings. Robles struck out five in 10.0 total innings of work on the night.
Southern Miss returns to action this weekend in the Mardi Gras Classic in Mobile, Ala. The Golden Eagles will play Samford, Mississippi State, SIU-Edwardsville, and tournament-host South Alabama. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
Game 1 Recap - Big Inning Lifts Softball Past Alabama State
In game one, Southern Miss trailed 1-0 before rallying for five runs to earn a 5-1 victory.
The Lady Hornets benefited from a Golden Eagle error to a take a one-run lead in the top of the third.
Southern Miss erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead for good. R. Johnson led off the inning with a bunt single. She moved to third on a McKeever double to left center field. Holifield walked to load the bases. The Golden Eagles tied the game as Cleary drew a RBI walk. Tori Dew gave the home team the lead with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield. Samantha Papp continued the inning with a walk. After a pitching change, Evans singled, scoring Cleary from third. Kaelyn Christofferson re-loaded the bases with an infield single to third base. Robles helped her own cause with a RBI walk, giving Southern Miss a 5-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Game 2 Recap - Softball Outlasts Alabama State to Complete Sweep
In the second game, Southern Miss used a six-run inning to take control of the game and pull out a 10-8 victory and sweep the doubleheader.
Southern Miss struck first, plating a run in the first inning. Holifield reached on an error that left her on second base. She moved to third on a wild pitch and came around to score on a Cleary double to left center field.
The Golden Eagles added a pair of runs in the second inning. With one out, Reynolds and R. Johnson both singled to get things started. Following a fielder's choice, R. Johnson and Holifield advanced one base on a wild pitch. Evans walked, loading the bases. Cleary singled up the middle scoring R. Johnson and Holifield.
Alabama State tied the game with three runs in the third inning. The leadoff batter reached after being hit by a pitch. The runner advanced to second on a groundout and came around to score on a RBI single. A wild pitch moved the runner into scoring position. The next batter followed with a walk. The Golden Eagles recorded the second out of the inning with a fly ball to deep center field. The runner on second base tagged up and came around to score. A RBI double to right center field knotted the game at 3-3 in the third.
The Lady Hornets took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, ASU used a single and a home run by Charlene Castro to take a 5-3 lead.
Trailing by two, the Golden Eagles rallied with six runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, R. Johnson singled to start things out. Evans followed with a two-out single. Cleary scored the two runners with a double down the left field line. Stringer followed with a pinch-hit double to right center field to give Southern Miss the lead once again. McKeever continued the inning with a single. After a pitching change, Bailey Stokes singled up the middle, scoring Stringer. Arielle Pollock entered the game to pinch run. Christofferson reached on a fielder's choice that saw all bases advance safely. Reynolds singled up the middle scoring Pollock and McKeever and giving the Golden Eagles a 9-5 advantage.
Alabama State used a double, a hit batter and a double to score a run in the top of the sixth inning, but Southern Miss countered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Papp walked to start the inning and came around to score on a Reynold's triple to the gap in left field.
The Lady Hornets used a pair of doubles and a single to score two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Golden Eagles ended the threat with a game-ending pop up to short, securing a 10-8 victory.
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