Friday, February 8
Hattiesburg, Miss.
1:00 PM
Southern Miss
1-0
9
vs
0
Houston Baptist
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Houston Baptist
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
Southern Miss
2
0
0
4
3
9
8
0
Southern Miss Softball Dominates Day One of the Black and Gold Invitational
2/8/2019 11:46:00 PM | Softball
Box Score 1Box Score 2Southern Miss vs. Houston Baptist Box ScoreSouthern Miss vs. Central Arkansas Box Score
The Golden Eagles now hold a 2-0 record.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss softball team kicked their 2019 season off the best way possible by sweeping day one of the Black and Gold Invitational. The Golden Eagles started the day with a 9-0 victory over Houston Baptist which came via the run rule.
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The Southern Miss bats came to life early and stayed hot throughout the game as they posted a team batting average of .348 (8-23) against the Huskies.
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Senior second baseman Chase Nelson and sophomore center fielder Destini Brown each recorded a multi-hit game. Nelson went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI, three runs scored and drew one walk. Nelson's first hit of the day also marked the first of the season for the Golden Eagles. Brown also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs in the contest.
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Senior first baseman Sarah Van Schiak led the way for Southern Miss in the RBI column after collecting three RBI on a bases-clearing double to center field that gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
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The heartfelt moment of the day came in the bottom of the fourth inning when redshirt sophomore infielder Heather Hill, who recently returned to action after missing the 2018 season due injury, blasted a leadoff home run. The solo shot that extended the Golden Eagles' lead 3-0 was also the first home run of Hill's Southern Miss career.
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Junior shortstop Lacey Sumerlin collected her first as a Golden Eagle in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sumerlin who is one of 10 newcomers on the team landed at Southern Miss after a two year stint at the University of Georgia.
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Sophomore outfielder Kaley Fruge rounded out the offense for the Golden Eagles in game one with a base hit and a run scored.
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While the Golden Eagles' offense provided many highlights throughout the game, not to be overlooked was the pitching performance of junior right hander Abby Trahan.
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Trahan who was named to Softball America's College Top 100 list on Thursday afternoon showed why her skills have caught the attention of many across the country.
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In her first outing as a Golden Eagle, Trahan tossed a complete game shutout (5.0 innings), scattered four hits, issued just two walks and struck out three.
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The Kaplan, La. native spent the two previous seasons at Saint Francis University (Loretto, Pa.).
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The Golden Eagles carried their momentum into game two and came away with yet another run rule victory after defeating Central Arkansas 12-4 in the nightcap.
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Sophomore third baseman Alyssa "Tata" Davis paced the Golden Eagles with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI in the contest.
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Nelson, Brown, Van Schaik, Sumerlin, and senior catcher Samantha Papp all hammered out two hits each to add to the Golden Eagles' 14 hit total.
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Fruge extended her hitting streak by adding a single in the game.
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True freshmen pitchers Makenna Pierce and Kaylan Ladner made their collegiate debuts on the mound and did not disappoint. Pierce earned the start and tossed 5.0 innings. The Daphne, Ala. native allowed five hits, three runs (one earned), issued three walks and struck out two.
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Ladner, the Kiln, Miss. native and former Hancock High School standout, entered the game in the top of the sixth inning in relief of Pierce and allowed one hit, one run, issued one walk and recorded one strikeout.
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Senior first baseman Sarah Van Schaik on the Golden Eagles' performance
"I think we played really well today. We executed and hit balls hard and every out was a tough out. Our defense made some great plays and our pitchers came out strong. All together I couldn't have asked for a better last first game day!"
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Senior catcher Samantha Papp on Southern Miss' 2-0 start
"All I can say is that I'm incredibly proud of this team. We have a goal to dominate each time we step on the field, and we did that today! The best part is that we still have work to do to continue to improve, and I have no doubt we will do that."
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The Golden Eagles will return to action on Saturday, February 9 where they will take on Tennessee Tech (5:30 p.m. CT) and Houston Baptist (8:00 p.m. CT) in day two of the Black and Gold Invitational.
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The Southern Miss bats came to life early and stayed hot throughout the game as they posted a team batting average of .348 (8-23) against the Huskies.
Â
Senior second baseman Chase Nelson and sophomore center fielder Destini Brown each recorded a multi-hit game. Nelson went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI, three runs scored and drew one walk. Nelson's first hit of the day also marked the first of the season for the Golden Eagles. Brown also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs in the contest.
Â
Senior first baseman Sarah Van Schiak led the way for Southern Miss in the RBI column after collecting three RBI on a bases-clearing double to center field that gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Â
The heartfelt moment of the day came in the bottom of the fourth inning when redshirt sophomore infielder Heather Hill, who recently returned to action after missing the 2018 season due injury, blasted a leadoff home run. The solo shot that extended the Golden Eagles' lead 3-0 was also the first home run of Hill's Southern Miss career.
Â
Junior shortstop Lacey Sumerlin collected her first as a Golden Eagle in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sumerlin who is one of 10 newcomers on the team landed at Southern Miss after a two year stint at the University of Georgia.
Â
Sophomore outfielder Kaley Fruge rounded out the offense for the Golden Eagles in game one with a base hit and a run scored.
Â
While the Golden Eagles' offense provided many highlights throughout the game, not to be overlooked was the pitching performance of junior right hander Abby Trahan.
Â
Trahan who was named to Softball America's College Top 100 list on Thursday afternoon showed why her skills have caught the attention of many across the country.
Â
In her first outing as a Golden Eagle, Trahan tossed a complete game shutout (5.0 innings), scattered four hits, issued just two walks and struck out three.
Â
The Kaplan, La. native spent the two previous seasons at Saint Francis University (Loretto, Pa.).
Â
The Golden Eagles carried their momentum into game two and came away with yet another run rule victory after defeating Central Arkansas 12-4 in the nightcap.
Â
Sophomore third baseman Alyssa "Tata" Davis paced the Golden Eagles with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI in the contest.
Â
Nelson, Brown, Van Schaik, Sumerlin, and senior catcher Samantha Papp all hammered out two hits each to add to the Golden Eagles' 14 hit total.
Â
Fruge extended her hitting streak by adding a single in the game.
Â
True freshmen pitchers Makenna Pierce and Kaylan Ladner made their collegiate debuts on the mound and did not disappoint. Pierce earned the start and tossed 5.0 innings. The Daphne, Ala. native allowed five hits, three runs (one earned), issued three walks and struck out two.
Â
Ladner, the Kiln, Miss. native and former Hancock High School standout, entered the game in the top of the sixth inning in relief of Pierce and allowed one hit, one run, issued one walk and recorded one strikeout.
Â
Senior first baseman Sarah Van Schaik on the Golden Eagles' performance
"I think we played really well today. We executed and hit balls hard and every out was a tough out. Our defense made some great plays and our pitchers came out strong. All together I couldn't have asked for a better last first game day!"
Â
Senior catcher Samantha Papp on Southern Miss' 2-0 start
"All I can say is that I'm incredibly proud of this team. We have a goal to dominate each time we step on the field, and we did that today! The best part is that we still have work to do to continue to improve, and I have no doubt we will do that."
Â
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Saturday, February 9 where they will take on Tennessee Tech (5:30 p.m. CT) and Houston Baptist (8:00 p.m. CT) in day two of the Black and Gold Invitational.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pierce, Makenna (1-0)
L: Sanchez, Rio (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Brooks, Laur 1 ; Hill, Cylla 1
RBI: Morris, Libb 2 ; Sperling, Re 1 ; Hill, Cylla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Crutchmer, K 1 ; Brooks, Laur 1 ; Hill, Cylla 1 ; Vernon, Tyla 1
SB: Crutchmer, K 1 ; Sperling, Re 1
HBP: Shepherd, Ka 1 ; Brooks, Laur 1 ; Hill, Cylla 1
Batting:
2B: Van Schaik, Sarah 1 ; Papp, Samantha 1 ; Davis, Tata 2
RBI: Van Schaik, Sarah 1 ; Papp, Samantha 2 ; Davis, Tata 2 ; Sumerlin, Lacey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Nelson, Chase 2 ; Brown, Destini 2 ; Van Schaik, Sarah 2 ; Papp, Samantha 1 ; Davis, Tata 2 ; Sumerlin, Lacey 1 ; Casey, Caroline 1 ; Fruge, Kaley 1
SB: Nelson, Chase 1 ; Brown, Destini 1 ; Papp, Samantha 1
HBP: Hill, Heather 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballINF/C
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