University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Ball State
Southern Miss Softball Splits Day Two at Louisiana Classic
2/11/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 11, 2017
LAFAYETTE, La. - Southern Miss split a pair of games in the second day of the Louisiana Classic, Saturday, losing the opening game to Iowa State 6-4, before rebounding to defeat Ball State in the nightcap 3-2.
The offense tallied eight hits on the day all coming from different Golden Eagles. Caitlyn Aldous, Samantha Papp, and Kaelyn Christofferson all had hits against Iowa State. Lauren Holifield, Jade Lewis, Selena Estrada, Bailey Stokes, and Rachel Johnson all had hits against Ball State. Seven Golden Eagles (2-2) scored runs on the day.
Southern Miss 4, Iowa State 6
Iowa State got on the board first with a single RBI to right field putting the Cyclones up 1-0.
Samantha Papp evened the score in the second for the Golden Eagles with a single to center field for the first hit of the game. She advanced to second on a Tori Rouse walk. Rachel Johnson then reached base on a fielding error allowing Papp to bring it home for the first run of the game to tie it up 1-1. With the bases loaded and two outs, Nelson walked to drive in Rouse to make the score 2-1.
The Cyclones responded with a four-run third that included a two-run homer to extend their lead 5-2 In the bottom of the fourth the Golden Eagles tried to rally back with two hits, one from Christofferson and another from Papp. Christofferson singled to left field and Tori Dew got a walk to put two runners on and Eva Scott got hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Caitlyn Aldous then singled to the shortstop to move the runners up and Christofferson scored. With the bases still loaded, Papp reached base on a fielder's choice allowing Dew to score, but Scott was called out at home to end the inning. Score now 5-4.
Iowa State responded with one more run in the top of the sixth to extend the lead 6-4.
Samantha Robles, the first of three pitcher in the game against Iowa State, suffered the loss by allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and three strikeouts over two innings to fall 0-2 on the year. Kim Crowson got the start and the win against Ball State pitching a complete game allowing two runs on four hits.
Southern Miss 3, Ball State 2
In the second game, the Golden Eagles defeated Ball State for the second-straight day scoring two runs in the final frame to earn the victory.
Ball State was the first to scratch the scoreboard, plating a run in the top of the first inning.
Southern Miss responded with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With no outs, Holifield singled to second base and she advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jade Lewis had her first hit of the day, a single through the left side where she advanced to second base on the throw bringing Holifield home for the run to tie the game 1-1. Eva Scott got on base with a walk.
The tie continued in a fast paced game until the top of the seventh when Ball State hit a single through the right side to bring in a run. The lead was short lived as the Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Selena Estrada led off the inning with a single through the left to give USM a base runner. Bailey Stokes with a sac bunt but the ball was overthrown landing her on second. Reagen Jacobs came in to run for Stokes. Rachel Johnson kept the momentum going with a single to center field, she advanced to second on the throw. Jacobs was called out at home but not before Estrada brought in another run. Johnson advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run to end the game.
Southern Miss concludes the 2017 Louisiana Classic with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 12 against tournament-host Louisiana. First pitch is slated for 1:30 p.m. (CT) at Lamson Park. Live stats and in-game tweets (@SouthernMissSB) will be available throughout the game as well as radio coverage by Josh West on 1400 AM in the Hattiesburg area.
