Softball Hosts Marshall in Weekend Series

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-The Golden Eagles (12-15, 1-2 Sun Belt) welcome Marshall (16-13, 2-1 Sun Belt) for a home conference series at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, beginning Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m.

Southern Miss Schedule

Friday, March 22 at 5 p.m.
Watch: https://es.pn/3Vq64Fj
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/3TJ5Tmj

Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m.
Watch: https://es.pn/3Ts464P
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/48VXWzy

Sunday, March 24 at 10 a.m.
Watch: https://es.pn/3TJ4X1h
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/43rgR4a

Southern Miss began conference play in the Sun Belt last weekend, dropping a home series versus Louisiana Monroe.

The Golden Eagles started the week with a 6-1 win against ULM Saturday in its first home game in over a month. However, ULM rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader with a 7-3 victory, and ended the weekend with a 3-0 shutout Sunday evening to decide the series.

Southern Miss then traveled to Thibodaux, La. for a midweek contest against Nicholls. While the Colonels pulled ahead with four runs in the fifth inning, the Golden Eagles responded and tied the game to force extra innings. Southern Miss could not complete the comeback, though, as the Colonels won 7-6 on a walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning.

Maria Smith led the Golden Eagles in the match with a season-high three hits, which also tied her career-high. Smith notched her first triple of the season against the Colonels as well.

Southern Miss' series versus Marshall this weekend marks the only time this season that the Golden Eagles play consecutive weekends at home.

Southern Miss Notables

Southern Miss enters the weekend 12-15, looking to break a three-game skid.

Jana Lee and Maddie Weeks returned to the lineup for the first time since February, starting in all three matches versus ULM. Lee led the Golden Eagles with a .556 batting average in her return, fielding five hits, including a double, batting in two runs. Lee also threw a complete game in the circle Sunday.

Holly Craft also made her first appearance in the circle since February, throwing three shutout innings in the second game versus the Warhawks Saturday, allowing one hit and one walk.

Hannah Borden matched Lee's high of five hits last weekend, adding a team-high three runs and two solo home runs. Borden hit both home runs in the second game on Saturday, bringing her career total to 40, just one shy of tying Megan Hill's all-time program record. Borden reached 182 career hits Sunday, passing recent Southern Miss alumni Tata Davis' total for the seventh most hits in program history. The graduate student catcher has recorded 35 hits already this season and a Sun Belt-high eight home runs. Borden's 16-game hitting streak, which was the fourth longest in the nation, was snapped Wednesday at Nicholls

Loganne Stepp threw her second complete game of the season, and second consecutive complete game on Saturday, leading Southern Miss to a 6-1 victory. Stepp threw a career-high 118 pitches, allowing just three hits, three walks and one earned run.

Scouting Marshall

Marshall enters the weekend 16-13 after dropping a midweek contest against Kentucky. The Thundering Herd won its conference-opener series against Georgia Southern last weekend.

Marshall is led by first-year head coach Morgan Zerkle, a former All-American for the Thundering Herd. Zerkle spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Miami University.

Entering week seven, Marshall leads the Sun Belt with a .327 batting average. Sydney Bickel and Brooklyn Ulrich both are batting over .400, leading the team with 30-plus hits each. Bella Gerlach also has 31 hits, including seven home runs, which trails Borden's eight for the most in the conference.

Bub Feringa leads the Thundering Herd in the circle with a 2.63 ERA and seven wins, including five complete games. The junior pitcher has thrown over 87 innings, allowing 86 hits, 34 walks and 33 earned runs, while recording 34 strikeouts. Feringa also has 25 hits this season at-bat, including five games with three or more hits.

Marshall Series History

Marshall leads the all-time series 22-15, having won nine of the last ten matchups.

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

Softball Hosts Marshall in Weekend Series

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Holly Craft

Jana Lee

Maria Smith

Loganne Stepp

Maddie Weeks

Softball Hosts Marshall in Weekend Series

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Holly Craft

Jana Lee

Maria Smith

Loganne Stepp

Maddie Weeks

Related Videos