Southern Miss' Five-Run Sixth Inning Propels Comeback Win Against Nicholls

Wednesday, April 3

Southern Miss Softball Complex

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

16-18

Nicholls

19-17

Nicholls

Southern Miss

Southern Miss' Five-Run Sixth Inning Propels Comeback Win Against Nicholls

4/3/2024 8:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Despite trailing through Wednesday night's home contest against Nicholls (19-17, 6-3 Southland), the Golden Eagles (16-18, 4-5 Sun Belt) erupted in the sixth inning with five runs and five hits to complete a 5-3 comeback victory against the Colonels.

Nicholls and starting pitcher Molly Yoo had held Southern Miss scoreless and to just one hit through the first five innings. Yoo struck out three batters in the opening frame and then retired the side for two consecutive innings in the third and fourth. A single to left field from Kinsley Gordon was the only base hit Southern Miss had entering the final stretch, as Nicholls maintained a 3-0 lead from a three-run home run by Gabby Higbee at the top of the second.

However, that all changed in the sixth after Jana Lee retired the side in order, bringing Southern Miss back to the top of the order. Graduate student catcher Hannah Borden hit a leadoff single, starting a chain of four consecutive hits for the Golden Eagles.

Lee followed with a double, and Natalie Taylor drove in the team's first run of the game with an RBI single. Maria Smith then sent Lee home on another RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt from Ryanna Valdivia, Taylor dove home safely on a fielder's choice to tie the game.

Nicholls turned to relief in Averi Paden, but Smith took the lead on another diving effort on a fielder's choice. To cap Southern Miss' outburst, second baseman Maddie Weeks recorded her first career double, driving in the Golden Eagles' fifth run of the game.

Lee opened the frame, fanning a batter for her second strikeout of the game. Two quick outs to shortstop and right field ended the match, cementing Southern Miss' late comeback victory.

Lee earned her fifth win of the season, allowing just one hit and no runs with two strikeouts through three innings. Starter Holly Craft also managed four innings for the Golden Eagles, allowing three hits and three runs.

Southern Miss outhit Nicholls six to four, with six Golden Eagles recording a hit in the match. Taylor extended her hitting streak to seven games and Borden's hit in the sixth inning marked her 29th game with a hit this season.

Up Next:

Southern Miss heads to Conway, S.C., for the first time in program history to take on Coastal Carolina in a conference series, starting Friday, April 5 at 5 p.m. CT.

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