University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Marshall
Robles Shuts Out Marshall in Game Two of Doubleheader
4/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss â€" Southern Miss softball split the day against the No. 30 Thundering Herd of Marshall, winning 8-0 in run-rule fashion to end the day and snap the visitors 17-game winning streak. The Golden Eagles move to 18-17, 4-7 C-USA, on the year.
Samantha Robles pitched the shutout in the night cap. The last time Southern Miss blanked its opponent came on May 7, 2016 against UTEP which Robles also went the distance.
The Herd had only been shut-out twice prior, both to No. 1 Florida State until today. This was also the largest margin of defeat this season for the Thundering Herd.
Marshall had just one stolen base on three attempts in the doubleheader, they came in leading the nation in stolen bases with an average of 3.83 a game.
Marshall 5 Southern Miss 0
The Thundering Herd scratched the board first putting up a single run in the top of the first inning. A triple and a sac bunt brought the runner home but the Golden Eagle defense got out of the inning with a quick line out.
The two teams exchanged scoreless innings until the Herd had runs in both the fourth and fifth inning to add some insurance on their lead. They topped off the shutout with a single run in the top of the seventh to secure the win, 5-0.
In the circle, Kim Crowson got her 14th start and pitched five complete innings. Crowson (6-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits before freshman pitcher Jade Lewis came in as relief. Lewis pitched the last two complete innings only allowing one run on three hits.
Southern Miss 8 Marshall 0 (5)
The Golden Eagles got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when Samantha Reynolds drew a lead-off walk and then was advanced on a sac bunt credited to Chase Nelson. Tori Dew then singled through the right side and Reynolds out ran the throw to beat the tag at home putting the Black and Gold on top, 1-0.
The teams went scoreless through three and a half innings, during this time the Southern Miss defense held the Herd to just four hits.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles knocked sevens run on four hits with the help of two Marshall errors. Rachel Johnson hit a single, Reynolds walked, and then Nelson reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Lauren Holifield hit a rocket to the left center wall for a stand-up double allowing all three to come home and extend the lead, 4-0. With Holifield on second and no outs, Dew got on base by the second error made by the Herd and advanced Holifield to third. Caitlyn Aldous then hit a single to bring Holifield home, 5-0. Bailey Stokes was walked to load the bases once again, still no outs in the inning. Arielle Pollock singled and Dew scored, Heather Hill then walked and Aldous scored, 7-0. Rachel Johnson on her second at bat hit her second single of the inning and allowed Stokes to come home and seal the 8-0 victory for the Golden Eagles.
The game ended with the bases loaded and no outs.
In the circle was Samantha Robles (4-5) who got her ninth start on the season and pitched the five complete innings. She allowed no runs on four hits and only walked two batters.
The two teams meet tomorrow for the third game in the series. First pitch is slated for 1 pm.
Live stats and updates will be available throughout the game (@SouthernMissSB). Josh West will also be at the Softball Complex broadcasting on 1400 AM The Score.
