Southern Miss
#23 Florida Atlantic
Softball Upsets No. 23 FAU to Even Series
3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 1) 
Box Score (Game 2) | Box Score (Game 2)
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- After waiting through a two-hour rain delay, the Southern Miss softball team split a pair of Conference USA games on the road at No. 23 Florida Atlantic at FAU Softball Stadium in Boca Raton. The nationally-ranked Owls earned a 3-0 victory in game one, but the Golden Eagles knotted the weekend series with a 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Offensively, the Black and Gold recorded seven hits on the day. The team was led by Tori Dew and Katie Cleary as the duo both had three hits apiece, with Dew hitting one of the two doubles on the day for the team. Lauren Holifield added a hit on the day, a two-RBI double that scored Arielle Pollock and Sydney Pollock. Holifield came home on a RBI squeeze bunt by Bailey Stokes. In addition, the team benefited from five walks by five different players.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles received a pair of complete-game performances. Danielle Block pitched in game one, while Samantha Robles tossed game two. Block was charged with the loss. The junior threw 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout. Robles surrendered a pair of runs on six hits in 7.0 innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic conclude the three-game C-USA series with a single game on Saturday morning. First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. (CT) / 12:00 p.m. (ET). Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
Game 1 Recap -- No. 23 FAU Pitches Past Softball
Florida Atlantic used solid pitching and timely hitting to claim a 3-0 victory in the opener of a three-game Conference USA series with Southern Miss.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. The first two batters of the game walked and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, the nationally-ranked Owls used a single up the middle to plate the first run of the game. Following a stolen base, the Golden Eagles used a fielder's choice to eliminate the lead runner at the plate. Southern Miss caught the runner at first in a rundown for the final out, but the runner stayed alive long enough for the Owls' runner at third base to score.
The score remained 2-0 until the fourth inning. FAU's Emily Lochten led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to straight away center field. The run was the final run that either team would score in the game as Florida Atlantic earned a 3-0 victory.
The Owls' Kylee Hanson had an impressive night in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just three base hits, while walking three and striking out 10.
Game 2 Recap -- Softball Upsets Nationally Ranked FAU
In game two, Southern Miss posted a three-run inning in the fourth and relied on solid pitching and defense to pull a 3-2 upset over No. 23 Florida Atlantic.
Southern Miss broke the scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth inning. Dew doubled to right center field and Cleary followed with a single up the middle. The Golden Eagles placed a pair of pinch runners on the bases with A. Pollock going to third for Dew and S. Pollock in to run for Cleary at first. Holifield followed with a two-RBI double to right center field giving the Black and Gold their first lead of the day. On the play, Holifield advanced to third base, setting up another Southern Miss run. With one out, Stokes dropped down a bunt that allowed Holifield to score on the squeeze, putting the Golden Eagles in front 3-0.
Robles and the defense posted zeros until the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles only allowed two runners into scoring position through the first six innings, while posting a pair of 1-2-3 innings.
In the seventh, the Owls used a bunt single to place the leadoff runner on base. A throwing error moved the runner into scoring position. FAU's Tatum Buckley hit a two-run home run to left field to pull the nationally-ranked home team to within on. With two runs across and no outs, the Golden Eagles used a fly ball to left field for the first out of the inning. The Owls used a single to place the potential tying run on first base. Robles caught the next batter looking at strike three and a fly ball to left field ended the game and secured the win.
The win was the first over a ranked opponent this season and the first for the Golden Eagles since recording a two-hit shutout over No. 21 South Alabama in Hattiesburg last season.
