Southern Miss
Jackson State
Softball Notches Run-Rule Victory Over Jackson State
3/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
JACKSON, Miss. â€" The Southern Miss softball team picked up the win (21-5) in a five inning game on the road against the Jackson State Tigers to improve to 17-16 on the season.
Southern Miss posted season-highs in runs and hits with 21 and 17, respectively. The last time the Golden Eagles scored 20 runs was February 13, 2015 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the Lion Classic.
In the circle, Jillian Johnson got the start and pitched five complete innings allowing five runs on nine hits with six strikeouts. Johnson (6-6) got the win.
Offensively, the team recorded 17 total hits highlighted by three homeruns. There were twelve different Golden Eagles with hits in the game. Arielle Pollock, Ciarra Cherry, Caitlyn Aldous, and Samantha Papp had multiple hits. Papp hit her third and fourth home runs on the season, while Cherry joined the club, hitting her first on the season.
Southern Miss got on the board first in the top of the first inning when the Black and Gold put together two walks, a stolen base, and two singles to plate the lone run.
The Golden Eagles added six more runs in the top of the second inning to extend the lead, 7-0. Papp and J. Johnson had base hits back-to-back and then Heather Hill drew a walk to load the bases when a wild pitch brought Papp home. Another walk and then a two RBI single by Chase Nelson plated Johnson and Hill. Another walk, a passed ball and an Aldous single plated three more runners. The Tigers got out of the inning but not before Southern Miss had a significant lead.
Jackson State tried to rally back by putting two runs on the board. The first run was walked in after the bases were loaded with only one out. The second was brought in after a Tiger was hit by a pitch. Johnson got out of the inning with a quick ground out with the score, 7-2.
Both teams put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Southern Miss had four runs and Jackson State had three. Aldous doubled to center field driving home one run, Papp launched a two-run homer over the center field wall to bring in two more and Hill with a double drove in the final. The Tigers combined a double, a single and a homer to put the three runs up.
The Black and Gold secured the win with 10 more runs in the top of the fifth. The Tigers faced twelve batters in the inning, allowing 10 runs on seven hits and recording three errors. Papp and Cherry both hit home runs in the inning to secure the win, 21-5.
Southern Miss returns home this weekend when they take on the Thundering Herd of Marshall in a three-game C-USA series in Hattiesburg at the Softball Complex.
