Softball Decides Missouri State Series With A Walk-Off Victory

Sunday, February 18

Southern Miss Softball Complex

2 p.m.

Southern Miss

4-4

Missouri State

2-6

Missouri State

Southern Miss

Softball Decides Missouri State Series With A Walk-Off Victory

2/18/2024 6:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-With the game tied and bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday's series finale against Missouri State, junior Ryanna Valdivia hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to lift Southern Miss (4-4, 0-0 SBC) past the Bears 4-3 and win the series.

The Golden Eagles continued their momentum at the plate off of Saturday night's season-high, reaching double-digit figures in hits (10) for the second consecutive game and the first time since Feb. 15-17, 2023, against Southern and Alcorn State.

Southern Miss's offensive success was backed by another seven-inning pitching performance, this time from true freshman BrookLynn White, who turned in the first complete game of her career. The Maumelle, Ark. native yielded five hits, two earned runs and one walk with three strikeouts to post her first career win.

Lauren Lindsey led the team with a career-high and individual team-high of three hits in her four at-bats, which included two doubles. Hannah Borden, Natalie Taylor and Mikaila Fox each produced two hits.

The Golden Eagles drew an early lead in the second inning as Valdivia earned her first RBI on a sacrifice bunt to send Lindsey home after her first double. Fox then sent Taylor home on an RBI double to right field.

Southern Miss continued the next inning at the top of the order with back-to-back singles by Borden and Jana Lee. After a pitching change from the Bears, Lindsey earned an RBI double to increase the lead to 3-1.

Despite leading for four innings, Missouri State erased the two-run advantage in the sixth on consecutive scoring plays.

The Bears got one runner on base in the seventh, but White retired the side to bring Borden up to bat. The graduate student catcher, who produced a hit in every game of the series, hit a leadoff double to get the frame started. Lee drew a walk, and Taylor loaded the bases with a final single, leading to Valdivia's walk-off sacrifice.

Up Next:

Southern Miss will embark on a three-week road stretch, starting in Jacksonville, Ala., in the Jacksonville State Cocky Classic from Feb. 23-25.

For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).