Softball Hosts Hub City Challenge

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- After a 5-1 weekend at the Golden Eagle Invitational, the Southern Miss softball team (8-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) looks to host their last tournament of the season. The Hub City Challenge will include Yale, Nicholls State, and UAPB this weekend at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

The mid-week match-up against Mississippi Valley State was canceled due to rain the night before.

Morgan Leinstock finished the last day of the Golden Eagle Invitational, sitting at 299 career strikeouts as Southern Miss swept opponents Alcorn (9-2) and Jacksonville State (4-1).

Southern Miss hosts its last tournament of the season following the Golden Eagle Invitational last weekend. The Golden Eagles finished the weekend with a 5-1 record against Alcorn State, Tulsa, Jacksonville State, and SIUE.

The Golden Eagles hold the all-time series advantage over UAPB (5-0) but fall behind the Colonels (11-9), and this will be the first match-up between Southern Miss and Yale.

The Black & Gold are set to host the Hub City Challenge Feb.24-26 at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. Live streaming will not be available, but live stats will be available on our website.

Scouting the opponents

Yale

The Bulldogs will kick off their season with the Hub City Challenge under the direction of first-year head coach Laura Ricciardone.
- Picked to finish fifth in the preseason Ivy poll.
-Riley Shubb was the starting second baseman for Team Israel in the Maccabiah Games and played against Team Canada and Team USA, earning gold as they won the 2022 championships.
- Junior Carolyn Skoltz is their 2023 team captain. She was named the team's Most Valuable Player after the 2022 season, starting 33 games for the Bulldogs, the most of any player.

UAPB

The Golden Lions take the field with a 2-6 overall record led by fifth-season head coach Michael Bumpers.
Their two wins came from a 9-1 victory over Ouachita Baptist and a 3-0 win over St. Peter's.
First baseman Samaria Jackson was named to the SWAC Preseason All-Conference First Team. Jackson ranks second in the conference in home runs (9) and fourth in the conference in on-base slugging percentage (1.129).

Nicholls

The Colonels enter the weekend with a 7-4 record under second-year head coach Justin Lewis.
Nicholls softball has been in three tournaments so far for the 2023 season the Lion Classic, LSU Invitational, and the Mardi Gras Mambo. They faced off with #19 Oregon State and #20 LSU. Trailing behind both teams with the scores of 3-6 and 3-4.
Melise Gossen and Alexa Poche were named to the Southland Preseason All-Conference Second Team.

Southern Miss- Yale Series

This will be the first match-up between Southern Miss and Yale.

Southern Miss- UAPB Series

The Golden Eagles have faced off with the Golden Lions five times, with matches dating back to 2014, and lead the series 5-0.
Their last match-up was in 2020, where both teams met in Conway, Ark., for a neutral site game where the Black & Gold picked up a 21-5 win for the run-rule victory.
This will be the Golden Lions' first time in the Burg since 2014.

Southern Miss- Nicholls Series

The Colonels have slated with the Golden Eagles 20 times since 2006, leading the series 11-9 over Southern Miss.
The last time these two teams met led to a split doubleheader at the Southern Miss Softball Complex two seasons ago.

Follow the Southern Miss softball team on social media, @SouthernMissSB on Twitter, @southernmisssb on Instagram, and at facebook.com/SouthernMissSB.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Softball Hosts Hub City Challenge

Players Mentioned

Morgan Leinstock

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