Softball Prepares for North Alabama Invitational

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball (8-10) wraps up its final weekend of non conference play at the North Alabama Tournament in Florence, Ala, starting Friday, March 8.

After falling to Southeastern 6-2 in Hammond, La. Wednesday night, the Golden Eagles travel to North Alabama to play five games against five teams.

Southern Miss Schedule

Friday, March 8
9:00 a.m. vs. Murray State (Northwest Shoals)

1:30 p.m. at North Alabama (Hilda B. Anderson Stadium)
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=512982&vislive=smis

Saturday, March 9
10 a.m. vs Samford (Hilda B. Anderson Stadium)

5:30 p.m. vs. Detroit Mercy (Northwest Shoals)

Sunday, March 10
11 a.m. vs. UMES (Hilda B. Anderson Stadium)

Southern Miss looks to continue its momentum from last weekend at the Bulldog Invitational in Starkville, Miss., where the Golden Eagles won three consecutive games- the longest streak yet this season.

After dropping a Thursday matchup versus Mississippi State, Southern Miss rallied for two comeback victories against Samford and enjoyed a dominant 8-1 outing versus Alcorn State.

Trailing by four innings entering the seventh inning Friday night against Samford, the Golden Eagles plated a season-high ten runs in the frame to hold on for a 17-15 victory. Southern Miss and Samford were locked in another close battle Saturday night, but the Golden Eagles took the second straight match against the Bulldogs with a 6-5 walk-off decision.

Southern Miss Notables

Southern Miss drew ten or more walks in consecutive games last weekend for the first time in program history. The Golden Eagles walked 13 times in Friday night's 17-15 thriller versus Samford, which ranks as the third-most in a game in program history. Southern Miss followed that performance at the plate with 11 walks against Alcorn State.

Southern Miss' 17 runs Friday night tied a record for the sixth-most runs scored and the game's 31 combined runs ranked the third most in program history. Before the match, Southern Miss was 2-127 in games when allowing ten or more runs.

Shelby Allen led the Golden Eagles with eight hits, seven runs and five walks with a team-high .667 batting average through four games at the Bulldog Invitational this weekend. Allen produced a hit every game, extending her hitting streak to five games, the longest of her career. The Plant City, Fla. native belted a career-high four hits, four runs and four RBI with a walk and a stolen base to help lead Southern Miss to a 17-15 victory against Samford Friday night.

Borden has hit home runs in consecutive games in the last two games versus Samford and Southeastern. With her third home run of the season against Samford Saturday, Borden claimed possession for the second-most RBI in program history (119). After belting another home run against the Lady Lions, needs only six more home runs this season to break Megan Hill's program record (41).

Scouting Samford

Samford is led by third-year head coach Kimball Cassady.

Samford will meet Southern Miss for the fourth time this season, with the Golden Eagles winning two contests. Altogether, both teams have scored 59 combined runs in their matchups this season.

Both of Southern Miss' wins against the Bulldogs have come from seventh-inning comebacks, including ten runs scored in the frame in last Friday's match.

Samford Series

The Golden Eagles hold a 13-11 all-time record versus the Bulldogs after winning both games last weekend.

Scouting Murray State

Murray State has started the season 9-11, coming off a 4-3 win against Lipscomb at the Purple & Gold Challenge.

The Racers are led by Kara Amundson, who serves her twelfth season as the program's head coach. Amundson led the team to its first NCAA appearance at Tuscaloosa in 2022.

Taylor Jackson leads the Racers with a .294 batting average, recording 15 hits. Altogether, Murray State has produced 148 hits through 20 games on a .207 average.

Jenna Veber, who earned the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week earlier this season, leads the Racers with a 1.11 ERA through 69 innings pitched, fanning 36 batters with only 11 earned runs allowed.

Murray State Series

Southern Miss won its only match versus Murray State on Feb. 13, 2021, 2-1.

Scouting North Alabama

North Alabama has started the season 14-6, coming off of four total wins at the MTSU Tournament last weekend.

The Lions are led by Ashley Cozart, who is in her 11th season with the program, posting a 556-206-1 record.

Felicity Frame leads the Lions with 23 hits and 14 runs with a .354 batting average.

North Alabama's pitching staff has a combined 2.41 ERA. At 7-2, Alivia Wilken paces the group with a 1.37 ERA, throwing for 61 innings with only 12 earned runs and 32 strikeouts.

North Alabama Series History

Southern Miss and North Alabama met for the first time in 2022, splitting two matches.

Scouting Detroit Mercy

Detroit Mercy has started the season 0-11.

The Titans are led by first-year head coach Dan Vitale.

Detroit Mercy has produced 45 hits through 11 games on a team .184 batting average.

Scouting UMES

UMES has started the season 4-7, coming from two losses in a doubleheader vs. Holy Cross.

Aaron Robinson leads the program in his first year as head coach.

Ammenah Ballenger paces the team with 17 hits through 11 games.

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

Softball Prepares for North Alabama Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Shelby Allen

Softball Prepares for North Alabama Invitational

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Shelby Allen

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