Southern Miss Softball Splits Final Day of Black and Gold Invitational

Sunday, February 9

Hattiesburg, Miss.

10:30 AM

Southern Miss

2-1

Saint Louis

2-2

Southern Miss

Saint Louis

Southern Miss Softball Splits Final Day of Black and Gold Invitational

2/9/2020 7:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Box Score (Game 1)PDF Box Score (Game 2)

The Golden Eagles fell to the Saint Louis Billikens, 5-4 in game one but bounced back in dominating fashion to capture a 13-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in game two.

Southern Miss Softball Splits Final Day of Black and Gold Invitational
The Golden Eagles fell to the Saint Louis Billikens, 5-4 in game one but bounced back in dominating fashion to capture a 13-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in game two.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss softball team (3-1) wrapped up the Black & Gold Invitational by splitting games against Saint Louis (2-2) and Mississippi Valley State (1-3). The Golden Eagles dropped game one to the Billikens, 5-4 but quickly bounced back, finishing the tournament strong with a 13-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in five innings.

Southern Miss struck first in game one when Amber Pack was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning with the bases loaded, which allowed Karley Nichols to score.

Saint Louis tied the game, 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning after a bases loaded walk was issued to Kelsey Etling.

The Golden Eagles recaptured the lead in the top of the fifth inning after plating three runs thanks to an RBI triple by Alyssa "Tata" Davis that scored Pack, a passed ball that allowed Davis to score and an RBI double by Maddie Vasquez that brought Beth Taylor home.

Saint Louis cut the scoring deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth inning after Etling hit a solo home run over the left field wall, making the score 4-2.

As the home team in the contest, Saint Louis captured a 5-4 walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh inning after Sadie Wise and Kat Lane scored on a Southern Miss fielding error and Kayla Swiderski followed with an RBI single to center field that allowed Gabbie Kowalik to score the game-winning run.

Kaylan Ladner (1-1) who went the distance for Southern Miss in the circle for the second time in three days suffered the loss and Aubrey Hacke (1-0) earned the win for Saint Louis.

Game Notes

Southern Miss sophomore left fielder Madison Rayner tallied her fourth triple of the season. Rayner's fourth triple of the season came in the top of the third inning.
Rayner was the lone Golden Eagle to register multiple hits in the game.
Southern Miss freshman second baseman Maddie Vasquez's RBI double to left center in the top of the fifth inning marked the first hit of her collegiate career.

After dropping their first game of the season, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles rallied together to turn in an impressive performance in their second game of the day, which ultimately lead to a 13-1 victory over the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes.

Southern Miss got off to a fast start in game two when Lacey Sumerlin scored on a Mississippi Valley State throwing error in the top of the first inning.

In the top of the second inning, Southern Miss took advantage of another Mississippi Valley State miscue when Bre Blankenship scored on a passed ball.

Amber Pack added another run to the Golden Eagles total after stroking a RBI double to right center in the top of the third inning, scoring Sumerlin.

After Pack's RBI double, Caroline Casey who entered the game as a pinch runner for Hannah Borden, scored on a wild pitch, giving Southern Miss a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning.

Mississippi Valley State scored its only run of the game when Deshonte Smith homered over the center field wall.

Southern Miss picked up two more runs in the top of the sixth inning after Sumerlin lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Vasquez to score and Rayner scored on a throw down to second base when Nichols stole it.

The Golden Eagles' offense saved their best for last as they exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, ending the game via the mercy rule.

Vasquez got the scoring started for Southern Miss in the final frame when she sent an RBI single through the left side that allowed Pack to cross the plate.

After entering the game as a pinch hitter for Nichols, Jamie Powell made the most of her opportunity as she smacked a bases-clearing RBI double to deep left field, scoring Blankenship, Vasquez and Rayner. Powell went on to score on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Back-to-back RBI singles to right field by Borden and Pack, which plated Brown and Borden respectively, wrapped up the scoring for the Golden Eagles in the game.

In the circle, Bailie Springfield (1-0) got her first start of the season for Southern Miss and threw well. In 4.0 innings pitched, the Mantee, Miss. native scattered four hits, allowed one run (earned), issued one walk, struck out two and earned the win.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Breley Boykin made the first appearance of her Southern Miss career when she entered the game in relief of Springfield in the fifth inning. The former Jackson Prep standout did her job as a reliever as she kept the Devilettes off of the scoreboard in the inning. In addition, Boykin also tallied her first collegiate strikeout.

Mississippi Valley State starting pitcher Brooke McCorkle (0-1) suffered the loss in the contest.

Game Notes

Bailie Springfield made her first appearance and start of the season.
In addition to making her first appearance and start of the season, Springfield also collected her first win of the season.
Jamie Powell recorded her first hit of the season in what was her first at-bat of the season.
Breley Boykin made her first appearance as a Golden Eagle.
Amber Pack posted a multi-hit game.

Rayner on her success at the plate and the team's performance over the weekend
"My approach at the plate was to keep it simple and not think about anything. I believe that helped me with my success at the plate this weekend. We had a very good weekend but I believe we have more potential that is going to come out later. We are a very good hitting team that is backed up with a good pitching staff and defense. This team is going to do some big things."

Next Game
Southern Miss will be back in action on Wednesday, February 12 when they host SWAC opponent Southern University at the Southern Miss Softball Complex at 6:00 p.m. (CT).

Promotions
Wednesday's game will feature National Pizza Day and Bingo Night.

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.

For all of the latest Southern Miss softball news, fans can follow the official Southern Miss softball Twitter account (@SouthernMissSB), Instagram account (@southernmisssb) and Facebook account (Southern Miss Softball).