Softball Concludes River City Leadoff With 3-2 Win Vs. JMU

Sunday, February 11

Jacksonville, Fla. / UNF Softball Complex

10:30 a.m.

Southern Miss

2-3

James Madison

4-1

Southern Mississippi

James Madison

Softball Concludes River City Leadoff With 3-2 Win Vs. JMU

2/11/2024 2:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-While Southern Miss (2-3) lost three games to start the season, the Golden Eagles concluded the River City Leadoff with two straight wins after knocking off Sun Belt opponent James Madison 3-2 Sunday at the UNF Softball Complex.

"First weekend out, we were definitely trying to kind of kickstart things pretty well and it took us a little bit of time to figure some things out," head coach Natalie Poole said. "But I thought that as the weekend went on, we got better at a lot of things. I thought that we pitched well, overall over the weekend and played good defense. And just at times, we're looking for those kids to be able to put us above and stay above and we figured some things out, which was really great."

The Golden Eagles wrapped up its five-game weekend with five hits, including a season-high two from Kinsley Gordon.

Loganne Stepp earned the win from four innings pitched with four hits, two runs and six walks allowed with one strikeout.

The overall team performance handed James Madison its first loss of the season after starting the weekend 4-0.

"I was proud of our resiliency. It was our fifth game on the weekend, so everybody's a little tired and we've got some banged up players, and so to come out today and play a Sunbelt opponent and come away with the win was really important to us, because even though we won't play them in the regular season, we might see them in the tournament," Poole said. " I was proud of our girls for stepping up today."

Junior Jana Lee delivered from start to finish-at the plate and in the circle. The designated player and pitcher hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give Southern Miss the differential it needed, and then earned the save after closing the game out in the bottom of the seventh inning.

"We had a conversation before the game just talking about who she needed to be and making sure that she stepped up into specific roles that she was in, and I thought that she did exactly what I asked her to do," Poole said. "And I think that she knew that was what she needed to do. She was really prepared today, so she did a great job for us at the plate and then also closed the door for us on the mound."

Southern Miss got off to a fast start, striking in the first inning for the first time this weekend. After Hannah Borden drew a walk, Lee kickstarted the Golden Eagles' offense with a two-run shot that sailed over center field. The at-bat marked Lee's first home run of the season and the eleventh of her career.

Southern Miss increased its lead in the second after Gordon's single with no outs gave Nealy McManus an opportunity for a sac bunt. The sophomore shortstop executed the bunt, and Gordon advanced home after a throwing error from the Dukes.

JMU responded in the bottom of the third with two hits and two runs, but Stepp continued to work through the game, preventing any more runs and stranding two Dukes on base in the following inning.

Freshman pitcher BrookLynn White came in relief for Stepp in the fifth inning, and the Golden Eagles stranded two JMU runners on a putout from Mikaila Fox.

Fox led off the next inning with Gordon as the pair hit consecutive singles for the Golden Eagles. Despite the early start, Southern Miss left both runners on base.

Lee inherited two runners on base in the final inning, and closed the door for her first career save.

Up Next:

Southern Miss returns home for the Opening Day Classic against Missouri State, starting with a doubleheader against Missouri State at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17.