Southern Miss Softball Takes Down Saint Louis 9-1 on Day Two of the Black & Gold Invitational

Saturday, February 8

Hattiesburg, Miss.

2:30 PM

Southern Miss

2-0

Saint Louis

1-2

Saint Louis

Southern Miss

Southern Miss Softball Takes Down Saint Louis 9-1 on Day Two of the Black & Gold Invitational

2/8/2020 9:27:00 PM | Softball

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Freshman right-handed pitcher Savanna Wood tallied eight strikeouts in her collegiate debut.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss softball team (2-0) took down Saint Louis University (1-2), 9-1 on Saturday afternoon in six innings. Prior to Saturday's contest, the last meeting between the two programs occurred on March 2, 2018 in the Ole Miss Tournament in Oxford, Miss. Southern Miss won the matchup by a final score of 15-8.

Southern Miss Head Softball Coach Brian Levin on the Golden Eagles performance
"The team has been really mentally focused on doing their individual jobs. When we get everyone doing that we really are a hard team to play against. I am really proud of the preparation and hard work the team put in during the fall and pre-season. I preach to them that you reap what you sow. They bought into that and it is paying off early. We are really pleased with what we have seen thus far."

For the Golden Eagles, day two of the Black & Gold Invitation went much like the first as they were provided with outstanding pitching, offense and defense.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Savanna Wood earned the first start of her Southern Miss career and turned in a performance to remember. The Skipperville, Ala. native went the distance in the circle for the Golden Eagles (five innings) and scattered five hits, allowed just one run (earned), did not issue any walks and struck out eight of the 21 batters that she faced.

Wood on her Southern Miss debut and the team's performance
"We are having such a good start to the season. I have dreamed and prayed over these moments and my coaches and teammates and I am really excited to see how the rest of the season goes."

Offensively, Southern Miss picked up right where they left off on Friday night with its high potent offense showing up for the second consecutive game.

While many contributed to Southern Miss' offensive performance, it was freshman slugger Hannah Borden who got things started for the Golden Eagles with an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the first inning that scored Destini Brown.

Redshirt junior right fielder Amber Pack followed Borden's double by smashing a two-run home over the left field wall, putting the Golden Eagles on top, 3-0.

Already holding a 3-0 lead, the Golden Eagles broke things open in the bottom of the second inning when they plated five runs, extending their lead to 8-0.

Junior center fielder Destini Brown and senior shortstop Lacey Sumerlin kicked off the scoring for Southern Miss in the bottom of the second inning by drawing back-to-back bases-loaded walks that allowed redshirt sophomore designated player Kaley Fruge and sophomore left fielder Madison Rayner to cross the plate.

A wild pitch by Saint Louis allowed junior first baseman Karley Nichols to score and then three batters later, Borden ripped an RBI single to center field that scored Brown.

Junior third baseman Alyssa "Tata" Davis wrapped up the scoring for the Golden Eagles in the inning by lacing an RBI single up the middle, scoring Sumerlin.

Saint Louis got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning when Sadie Wise sent an RBI single to left field that allowed Kat Lane to score the Billikens lone run of the game.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sumerlin ended the game when she laced a walk-off RBI double to right field that allowed Brown to score which caused the mercy rule to take effect.

Game Notes

Southern Miss is now 2-0 under the direction of Brian Levin.
Savanna Wood made the first appearance and start of her Southern Miss career.
Wood also recorded eight strikeouts and earned her first win as a Golden Eagle.
Amber Pack notched her first home run of the 2020 season.
Madison Rayner's fifth inning triple marked her third of the 2020 season.

Southern Miss will return to action on Sunday, February 9 at the Southern Miss Softball Complex when they take on Saint Louis at 10:30 a.m. (CT) and Mississippi Valley State at 12:30 p.m. (CT) on the final day of the Black & Gold Invitational.

Promotions
Sunday's games will both be Go Gold Out games and after the final game, fans will have the opportunity to receive autographs from the student-athletes of the Southern Miss softball team in recognition of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Ticket info
Fans can purchase tickets to all home Southern Miss softball games by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office Monday-Friday from the hours of 8:00 a.m. (CT) - 5:00 p.m. (CT), by calling (800) 844-TICK (8425), online at SouthernMissTickets.com, or at the main gate of the Southern Miss Softball Complex on game day one hour prior to the first pitch.