Southern Miss
No.9 Alabama
Southern Miss Softball On the Road to Face Off With No.9 Alabama
2/28/2023 3:33:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-- The Southern Miss softball team (12-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) heads to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for an evening match-up against the No.9 Crimson Tide after a 4-0 weekend at the Hub City Challenge at the Southern Miss Softball Complex Feb. 24-26.
Last Time OutÂ
To end their home tournaments for the 2023 campaign, Southern Miss defeated Yale and previous adversaries Nicholls State and UAPB.
In the opening match against the Bulldogs, Morgan Leinstock delivered her 300th career strikeout en route to an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings. Natalie Taylor, Alexis Dittmer, and Hurdle were all brought in by Lorna Agren's triple to right-center in the bottom of the third for three RBI.
In the bottom of the fifth, Borden hit her second double of the ballgame, and Taylor flew out to left field, allowing Borden to score and extend the Golden Eagles' lead. Freshman Kinsley Gordon, who had replaced Paris Ferguson in the lineup, hit her first home run of the year to left field for a three-run drive with two outs and a full count. After six innings, Gordon walked, driving Dittmer home for a run-rule victory. For the afternoon game, the freshman had the most RBIs with four, and Lorna Agren was just behind her with three. Leinstock (4-1) won the game by retiring eight batters while giving up just five hits and no runs.
The Golden Eagles defeated Yale and UAPB in a doubleheader on day two, only surrendering one score from each team. After Yale's early lead, Natalie Taylor homered to left field for her second of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Bulldogs to tie the game at 1-1. McManus and Gordon could score after Maria Smith singled to left field to score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Dittmer held the momentum when she singled to right field shortly after bringing Maria Smith home 4-1.Â
In the bottom of the first, Maria Smith and Hannah Borden each scored once after Alexis Dittmer's double to the left-center against UAPB. For the nightcap, Jana Lee and Natalie Taylor both hit home runs. Paige Kilgore (4-0) earned the victory for USM by pitching her first career complete game while allowing just one run and striking out five batters.
Hannah Borden hit her third home run of the season to left field in the bottom of the first inning of the final Hub City Challenge game against Nicholls. Maria Smith then singled to left field, allowing Shelby Allen to score. Alexis Dittmer maintained her strong performance at the plate in the bottom of the third by bunting a single that brought Smith home.
Scouting the OpponentÂ
- The Crimson Tide heads into Wednesday's match-up 11-2 under the direction of 25th-year head coach Patrick Murphy. Guiding Alabama to its first national total and a 2012 National Championship, 13 Women's College World Series berths, six SEC regular season titles, five SEC Tournament titles, and 23-straight NCAA Tournament bids are only a few of the team honors that Murphy has brought to the program. Alabama's coaching staff has been named the NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year 11 times.Â
- At the Easton Bama Bash last weekend, Alabama went 4-1, winning its first four games before succumbing to Kennesaw State in the weekend's finale. Ally Shipman is the team's bat leader with a.440 average (11-for-25), followed by Ashley Prange with a.379 average (11-for-27), who also has a team-high four home runs and 11 RBIs.
- Head coach Patrick Murphy recorded his 1200th win on Feb. 22, defeating Samford 3-2.Â
- Montana Fouts and Ally Shipman were selected to the 2023 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team.Â
Series HistoryÂ
- Alabama leads the series 12-1, with matches dating back to 2006.Â
- The lone win, 3-2, came in Hattiesburg on Feb. 22, 2006.Â
Live streaming and stats will be available, and you can purchase game tickets here. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Follow the Southern Miss softball team on social media, @SouthernMissSB on Twitter, @southernmisssb on Instagram, and at facebook.com/SouthernMissSB.
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