Southern Miss
Incarnate Word
Softball Run Rules UIW to Close Out Gulf Coast Classic
2/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
GULFPORT, Miss. -- The Southern Miss softball team notched a 10-2 run-rule victory over Incarnate Word on Sunday morning to close out the 2016 Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic at the Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.
The Golden Eagles tallied 17 hits, including seven extra-base hits to score 10 runs and relied on solid pitching to limit the Cardinals to just a pair of runs.
Lauren Holifield and Morgan McKeever led the way with three hits apiece, while Tori Dew, Sarah Evans, Arielle Pollock, and Samantha Reynolds added two hits each. Holifield belted her second home run of the tournament, while Reynolds raced for her second triple of the season. Dew, Evans, Holifield, Reynolds, and Bailey Stokes each doubled in the contest.
In the circle, Danielle Block earned the victory. The junior tossed 5.0 innings, allowing a pair of runs (one earned run on five hits with no walks and a strikeout. Block retired five in a row to start the game and 11 of the first 13 batters she faced. She was relieved by Samantha Robles, who tossed a perfect inning in relief with a strikeout.
Southern Miss was the first team to scratch the scoreboard, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. McKeever led off with a single to right field. Dew followed with a RBI double to right center field to put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard.
Incarnate Word responded with a run in the top of the second. With two outs, the Cardinals benefited from a three-base error to place the first base runner of the day on third base. A RBI single scored the runner, tying the game at 1-1.
The Golden Eagles added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Evans doubled to left field with one out. Holifield singled to third base. With two outs, Jillian Johnson pinch hit and delivered a RBI single just inside the foul line down left field. A. Pollock beat out an infield single to second base to score the second run of the inning.
The Black and Gold added two insurance runs in the fourth. McKeever leadoff the inning with a single, but was erased as Dew reached on a fielder's choice. Katie Cleary walked to give Southern Miss a pair of base runners. Sydney Pollock entered the game to pinch run at second base. Evans singled to deep right field. S. Pollock slid in home but was ruled out. Following a pitching change, Holifield doubled to right center field, scoring Cleary and Evans.
The Cardinals got a run back in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, UIW used a single down the left field line to put a runner on. The next batter hit a fly ball to the outfield, which was dropped, but the Golden Eagles alertly threw out the lead runner for the fielder's choice. Back-to-back singles allowed the lead run to score, but a heads up defensive play retired a runner trying to advance an extra base.
Southern Miss added a pair of runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Reynolds tripled to straight away center field. Rachel Johnson walked and promptly stole second base to give the Golden Eagles a pair of runners in scoring position. McKeever singled up the middle allowing Reynolds and R. Johnson to score.
Leading 8-2, the Golden Eagles provided the final margin of victory with three runs in the sixth innings. Holifield led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. Samantha Papp drew a walk, prompting a pitching change. Kaelyn Christofferson singled to left center and advanced to second on the throw to try to retire Papp. Reynolds closed out the game with a two-RBI double to left center field.
Southern Miss returns to action on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles host Alcorn State in a doubleheader. Live stats, live video, live audio, and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the games.
