University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Heads to Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic
2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- The Southern Miss softball team returns to the diamond this weekend as the Golden Eagles travel to Gulfport for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic at the Gulfport Sportsplex. The Black and Gold take on Southeastern Louisiana (3 p.m.) and No. 24 Baylor (8 p.m.) on Friday before taking on McNeese State (3 p.m.) and Nicholls (8 p.m.) on Saturday. Southern Miss closes out the tournament with a single game against Incarnate Word (10 a.m.) on Sunday.
Southern Miss enters the weekend 7-6 overall. Southeastern Louisiana is 9-2 overall, while Baylor is 6-3. McNeese State is 7-2, Nicholls is 8-4 and Incarnate Word is 3-8.
The Golden Eagles are coming off of a pair of games at home against Ole Miss. Southern Miss notched a 2-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. The victory was the first over the Rebels since 2013 and the first win against Ole Miss in Hattiesburg since 2004. Southern Miss fell in the nightcap, 10-1 in five innings.
Southern Miss holds a 25-20 (.556) advantage in the series with Southeastern Louisiana. Last season, the Golden Eagles dropped a 12-6 decision to the SLU in the Lion Classic II in Hammond, La. The two teams have met at a neutral site twice with each team winning a game.
Baylor holds a 4-2 (.667) edge in the series with the Black and Gold. The Golden Eagles are 1-0 (1.000) against the Bears in Hattiesburg, 0-3 (.000) in Waco, Texas, and tied 1-1 (.500) at neutral sites.
The Golden Eagles are 24-7 (.774) all-time against McNeese State. Last season, the Cowgirls posted a 2-0 victory in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. Prior to that game, Southern Miss had four consecutive wins in the series and 10 of the previous 12 games.
Nicholls owns a 37-12 (.755) record against Southern Miss. However, the Golden Eagles have won the last four meetings, including a 3-2 victory in 11 innings against the Colonels last season in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic.
Southern Miss and Incarnate Word have only met one time on the softball field. Last season, the Golden Eagles edged the Cardinals, 2-1, at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic.
