Southern Miss
Middle Tennessee
Softball Opens C-USA Play with Road Split
3/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 1) 
Box Score (Game 2) | Box Score (Game 2)
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- The Southern Miss softball team opened up Conference USA action on the road with a doubleheader split with Middle Tennessee on Saturday at the Blue Raider Softball Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Golden Eagles were edged 6-5 in game one before an offensive explosion led to a 12-6 victory over the Blue Raiders in game two.
Offensively, Southern Miss batted .313 as a team, going 20-for-64 with four doubles and five home runs on the day. Michelle Stringer finished 4-for-4 with a double and a homer, while Lauren Holifield was 4-for-7 with three home runs, four runs scored and a team-high eight RBI. Sarah Evans and Morgan McKeever each added three hits, while Tori Dew contributed a pair of base knocks. Samantha Robles made her one hit count, belting a home run. Katie Cleary, Dew, and McKeever each legged out doubles on the day.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles used a trio of pitchers. Samantha Robles tossed a complete game to start the day. She allowed six runs (five earned runs) on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. She walked two batters and struck out three. In game two, Danielle Block earned the start and was credited with the win. The junior allowed two runs on two hits in 3.1 innings pitched. She walked two and struck out one. She was relieved by Jillian Johnson. The true sophomore surrendered three runs on five hits in 1.1 innings with no walks and a strikeout. Robles closed out the second game. She earned her second save of the season, tossing 2.1 innings and allowing one run on two hits and a walk.
Southern Miss and Middle Tennessee conclude the three-game Conference USA series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
Game 1 Recap -- Early Deficit Costly for Golden Eagles
Southern Miss fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and 6-0 overall before mounting a comeback that fell just short in game one.
In the first inning, Middle Tennessee used a one-out single just inside the foul line behind third base to place a runner on base. A double to right center gave the home team a pair of base runners in scoring position. With two outs, Danielle Munoz put the Blue Raiders on the scoreboard with a three-run home run to left center field. Middle Tennessee continued the inning with a walk and a RBI triple by Carlie Jenkins pushed the advantage to 4-0.
The Blue Raiders added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The leadoff batter walked and a bunt single gave the hosts a pair of runners. Middle Tennessee used a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. With two outs, the Blue Raiders used a RBI single and a fielding error to score a pair of runs and extend the lead to 6-0.
The Golden Eagles rallied in the fifth inning. Robles led off the inning with a home run to left center field. Stringer pinch hit and singled to center field. Kaelyn Christofferson re-entered the game to run, but was retired on a fielder's choice that saw Samantha Reynolds reach safely. McKeever singled up the middle. With two outs, Cleary doubled to left center field, scoring Reynolds. Sydney Pollock entered the game to run at second base for Cleary. Holifield blasted a three-run home run to left field to pull the Golden Eagles to within one, 6-5.
Southern Miss was unable to tie the game in the sixth or seventh, falling the C-USA opener by one run.
Game 2 Recap -- Offense Powers Softball Past Middle Tennessee
In game two, the Golden Eagles trailed 2-0 early, but multiple runs in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings allowed Southern Miss to cruise to a 12-6 victory.
Middle Tennessee was the first team to score, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, a hit batter placed a runner on first base. A single and a wild pitch moved two runners into scoring position. Southern Miss used a strikeout for the second out of the inning but a second hit batter of the inning and a walk allowed the lead runner to score. A third hit batter scored the second run of the inning and a groundout ended the Blue Raider threat with the home team leading 2-0.
Southern Miss responded in the top of the second. Holifield reached on a throwing error by MT that left the junior on second base. Evans singled to center field, leaving the Golden Eagles with runners on the corners. Bailey Stokes singled in the first run of the game for USM. With runners on the corners, a groundout moved Stokes into scoring position. Evans came in to score on a RBI groundout by Reynolds to tie the game. Rachel Johnson followed with a RBI single to left field, scoring Stokes and giving Southern Miss its first lead of the day, 3-2.
The Golden Eagles added a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Evans led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stokes. Stringer entered the game to pinch hit and the senior belted a two-run homer to left field to put the Black and Gold ahead 5-2.
In the fifth inning, McKeever walked and Dew reached on a fielding error. With one out, Holifield homered to left field, extending the advantage to 6-2.
The Blue Raiders responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. MT led off the inning with a hit batter and with one out a single placed a pair of runners aboard. An infield single loaded the bases. The first run of the inning was a RBI groundout and a RBI single plated the second run. A single just inside the line behind third base allowed the third run of the inning to cross the plate.
Southern Miss answered with two more runs in the sixth inning. With one out, Dew singled through the right side of the infield. She moved to second on a groundout. Holifield followed with her second home run of the game to put Southern Miss up 10-5.
Middle Tennessee used a Munoz solo home run to center field to chip into the lead, but MT would not be able to score anymore as the Southern Miss defense stood strong.
In the seventh, Stringer doubled with one out and moved to third on a groundout. R. Johnson walked and McKeever delivered a RBI single through the right side. The hit was McKeever's 169th, tying her with Kristin Pilgrim (2009-12) for 10th all-time in Southern Miss history. Dew followed with a RBI double to right center to score R. Johnson and extend the lead to 12-6.
In the bottom of the frame, R. Johnson caught a shallow fly ball to center field and was able to double up a runner on second base for a double play. With two outs and one on base, Reynolds squeezed the final out of the game preserving the victory.
