Southern Miss
Louisiana Tech
Big Inning Costly as Softball Falls at LA Tech
5/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
RUSTON, La. -- The Southern Miss softball team fell on the road to Louisiana Tech in the series finale in Ruston, La. at the Lady Techster S.C. The Golden Eagles surrendered four runs in one inning to drop a 4-2 decision to the home team.
Offensively, the Black and Gold out hit the LA Tech, 6-5. Lauren Holifield, Katie Cleary, Michelle Stringer, Bailey Stokes, Kaelyn Christofferson, and Arielle Pollock each recorded hits in the game. Holifield and Cleary also reached base with walks in the game. Stringer and Stokes both scored runs in the game.
In the circle, Samantha Robles and Danielle Block combined for the complete game. Robles started the game and was charged with the loss. She worked 2.1 innings allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Block entered in relief allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings of shutout ball. She issued one walk and also struck out a batter.
Southern Miss was the first team to score, plating a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Stringer and Stokes led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Christofferson dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. On the play, Louisiana Tech threw the ball away, allowing Stringer and Stokes to score and leaving Christofferson on third base. With one out, Holifield drew a walk, but a double play ended the inning and thwarted the Golden Eagles' opportunity for additional runs.
Louisiana Tech responded in the third inning. After a walk to the leadoff batter, the Lady Techsters' Anna Cross homered to left field, tying the game at 2-2. LA Tech continued the inning with a triple just out of reach of a diving Golden Eagle outfielder. The home team took the lead with a RBI single through the right side. The next batter doubled to right center field, scoring the lead runner and pushing the advantage to 4-2. Southern Miss went to the bullpen to bring in Block. She struck out the first batter she faced and induced a ground out to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, a leadoff single by A. Pollock and a two-out base hit by Cleary put the tying runs on base, but Louisiana Tech escaped the inning with no runs allowed with a fly ball to center field.
Louisiana Tech used a double play in the seventh inning to stop a potential Southern Miss rally. Christofferson led off the inning with a single. Rachel Johnson looked to have a single down the left field line, but the ball was ruled foul by the umpires. After fouling off several pitches, LA Tech induced a line drive out to the pitcher, who was able to throw over to first for the double play. A groundout ended the inning and a potential comeback.
Southern Miss returns to action on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles travel to Itta Bena, Miss. for a single game with Mississippi Valley State. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game.
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