Softball Ties Season High in Hits in Dominant 10-1 Win Versus Troy

Saturday, March 30

Troy, Ala. / Troy Softball Complex

2 p.m.

Southern Miss

15-18, 4-5

Troy

26-0, 6-3

Southern Miss

Troy

Softball Ties Season High in Hits in Dominant 10-1 Win Versus Troy

3/30/2024 2:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

TROY, Ala.-Southern Miss Softball (15-18, 4-5 Sun Belt) responded to two losses in its series against Troy (26-12, 6-3 Sun Belt) with a dominant performance Saturday at the Troy Softball Complex, tying a season-high in hits on the way to a 10-1 run-rule victory.

For the fourth time this season, Southern Miss' bats erupted for 13 hits with four Golden Eagles earning multiple hits. Graduate student catcher Hannah Borden led the team with three hits, including two solo home runs. Natalie Taylor, Maria Smith and Ryanna Valdivia each notched two hits in the match.

Saturday's game against Troy marked the ninth game of the season the Golden Eagles have recorded ten or more hits, the most since the 2022 season.

Southern Miss' offensive performance was complimented by a complete game from designated player and pitcher Jana Lee, who allowed just three hits, one walk and one run with two strikeouts in five innings. One week after closing the series against Marshall with a win, Lee picked up her third win of the season in the circle against the Trojans.

While Troy struck first in the bottom of the second with a solo home run from Libby Baker, the Golden Eagles answered with a five-run third inning.

Borden led off the frame with a solo home run to tie the game, immediately followed by a double from Lee. Smith drove in Lee with an RBI single, leading to a pitching change from the Trojans as Olivia Cato entered the circle.

Valdivia knocked off an RBI single to shortstop and after Smith scored on a wild pitch, the junior third baseman was sent home on Maddie Weeks' RBI single for the final run of the inning.

Lee retired the side in order, bringing back Southern Miss' lineup who carried over their momentum into the fourth inning.

Shelby Allen hit a leadoff single, followed by a walk from Borden. Taylor then sent a ball out of the park for a three-run homer, increasing her season total to three home runs.

After Troy brought in Alyssa Faircloth, Smith earned her second hit of the game on a single and advanced on an error. The senior shortstop made her way around the bases and safely slid home on a wild pitch for the team's fourth run of the inning.

Borden added final insurance for Southern Miss with her 12th home run of the season on another solo shot. Lee allowed a walk to start the bottom of the fifth, but got her second strikeout of the game and then made a play to first base to secure the run-rule victory for the Golden Eagles.

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