Friday, February 23
Jacksonville, Ala. / Jana McGinnis Field
12:30 p.m.
Southern Miss
4-5
4
vs
5
Southern Indiana
2-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Southern Miss
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
4
6
0
Southern Indiana
0
0
0
0
4
0
1
5
8
1
Softball Drops Two Matches In First Day of Cocky Classic
2/23/2024 7:58:00 PM | Softball
JACKSONVILLE, Ala.-Southern Miss Softball (4-6, 0-0 SBC) fell to late rallies by Southern Indiana and Jacksonville State on the opening day of the Cocky Classic at Jana McGinnis Field.
Game One: Southern Indiana 5-Southern Miss 4
In the two programs' first meeting between each other, the Screaming Eagles edged past the Golden Eagles 5-4 on a walk-off RBI single.
While Southern Miss kept Southern Indiana scoreless for the majority of the game, the Screaming Eagles seized the lead with four runs in the fifth inning, which included a three-run home run.
Before then, the Golden Eagles maintained a 2-0 lead from a two-RBI single Hannah Borden in the third inning.
Holly Craft led Southern Miss with four shutout innings in the circle to start the game. The Raleigh, Miss. native finished the day with just two hits allowed and one walk with three strikeouts for a 1.43 ERA.
Jana Lee adjusted in the circle in the sixth inning and Southern Miss went into the seventh frame needing two runs.
After Nealy McManus singled for her second hit of the game, Borden delivered again-this time with an equalizing two-run home run shot. The play marked the graduate student catcher's 34th career home run, which puts her in sole possession for the second-most home runs in program history, and only seven behind Megan Hill's record.
After Southern Indiana drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh, pitcher BrookLynn White came in the circle. The Screaming Eagles continued their momentum, avoiding extra innings with an RBI single to end the game 5-4.
Lee earned her first loss of the season, while Southern Indiana's Josie Newman earned a win after throwing a complete game.
Game Two: Jacksonville State 9-Southern Miss 7
Southern Miss led in its second game of the day against Jacksonville State, but this time fought back from an early deficit. Despite finding the advantage, the Gamecocks surged back with a four-run outing in the sixth inning to take the game 9-7.
Southern Miss retaliated from a 3-0 Jacksonville State lead in the top of the first as Kinsley Gordon hit an RBI single and McManus earned an RBI on a groundout that sent KK Agner home.
While Jacksonville State found a two-run advantage with an RBI double in the third, Mikaila Fox answered with a leadoff solo home run shot. Gordon tied the match 4-4 in the frame as she advanced home on an error.
The Gamecocks tallied one run as the two teams began exchanging strikes, but the Golden Eagles broke through in the sixth inning.
After McManus singled and Borden drew a walk, Southern Miss plated one run with another Jacksonville State error. Natalie Taylor then fired an RBI single down the left field line to put the Golden Eagles ahead for the first time of the match.
The lead was short lived, however, as the Gamecocks responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. White came in to pitch in relief for Loganne Stepp, who finished her start with over 100 pitches thrown, including a career-high four strikeouts.
Jacksonville State shot ahead on a three RBI double before Southern Miss left two runners stranded on base. While Southern managed to drive in a run from McManus' RBI double, Jacksonville State held onto a 9-7 lead with a final groundout.
McManus produced a career-high three hits, while Lee also tied a career-high of two doubles. White earned the loss in the match.
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will play two games tomorrow, beginning with a 3 p.m. contest against Belmont and concluding the day with a 5:30 p.m. match versus Samford.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Game One: Southern Indiana 5-Southern Miss 4
In the two programs' first meeting between each other, the Screaming Eagles edged past the Golden Eagles 5-4 on a walk-off RBI single.
While Southern Miss kept Southern Indiana scoreless for the majority of the game, the Screaming Eagles seized the lead with four runs in the fifth inning, which included a three-run home run.
Before then, the Golden Eagles maintained a 2-0 lead from a two-RBI single Hannah Borden in the third inning.
Holly Craft led Southern Miss with four shutout innings in the circle to start the game. The Raleigh, Miss. native finished the day with just two hits allowed and one walk with three strikeouts for a 1.43 ERA.
Jana Lee adjusted in the circle in the sixth inning and Southern Miss went into the seventh frame needing two runs.
After Nealy McManus singled for her second hit of the game, Borden delivered again-this time with an equalizing two-run home run shot. The play marked the graduate student catcher's 34th career home run, which puts her in sole possession for the second-most home runs in program history, and only seven behind Megan Hill's record.
After Southern Indiana drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh, pitcher BrookLynn White came in the circle. The Screaming Eagles continued their momentum, avoiding extra innings with an RBI single to end the game 5-4.
Lee earned her first loss of the season, while Southern Indiana's Josie Newman earned a win after throwing a complete game.
Game Two: Jacksonville State 9-Southern Miss 7
Southern Miss led in its second game of the day against Jacksonville State, but this time fought back from an early deficit. Despite finding the advantage, the Gamecocks surged back with a four-run outing in the sixth inning to take the game 9-7.
Southern Miss retaliated from a 3-0 Jacksonville State lead in the top of the first as Kinsley Gordon hit an RBI single and McManus earned an RBI on a groundout that sent KK Agner home.
While Jacksonville State found a two-run advantage with an RBI double in the third, Mikaila Fox answered with a leadoff solo home run shot. Gordon tied the match 4-4 in the frame as she advanced home on an error.
The Gamecocks tallied one run as the two teams began exchanging strikes, but the Golden Eagles broke through in the sixth inning.
After McManus singled and Borden drew a walk, Southern Miss plated one run with another Jacksonville State error. Natalie Taylor then fired an RBI single down the left field line to put the Golden Eagles ahead for the first time of the match.
The lead was short lived, however, as the Gamecocks responded with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth. White came in to pitch in relief for Loganne Stepp, who finished her start with over 100 pitches thrown, including a career-high four strikeouts.
Jacksonville State shot ahead on a three RBI double before Southern Miss left two runners stranded on base. While Southern managed to drive in a run from McManus' RBI double, Jacksonville State held onto a 9-7 lead with a final groundout.
McManus produced a career-high three hits, while Lee also tied a career-high of two doubles. White earned the loss in the match.
Up Next:
The Golden Eagles will play two games tomorrow, beginning with a 3 p.m. contest against Belmont and concluding the day with a 5:30 p.m. match versus Samford.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Newman, Josie (2-2)
L: Lee, Jana (2-1)
Batting:
HR: Borden, Hannah 1
RBI: Borden, Hannah 4
SH: Gordon, Kinsley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gordon, Kinsley 1 ; Borden, Hannah 1 ; McManus, Nealy 2
SB: Valdivia, Ryanna 1
Batting:
2B: Long, Sydney 1
HR: Kihega, Sammie 1
RBI: Fair, Lexi 1 ; Kihega, Sammie 3 ; Gotshall, Hailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bedrick, Mackenzie 1 ; Mumaw, Alyssa 1 ; Fair, Lexi 1 ; Kihega, Sammie 1 ; Stapleton, Caroline 1
HBP: Money, Olivia 1 ; Fair, Lexi 2
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
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