Softball Holds Onto Lead for 5-4 Victory Friday at South Alabama

Friday, May 3

Mobile, Ala. / Jaguar Field

6 p.m.

Southern Miss

22-27, 10-14

South Alabama

30-17-1, 15-8

Southern Miss

South Alabama

Softball Holds Onto Lead for 5-4 Victory Friday at South Alabama

5/3/2024 9:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala.-Southern Miss Softball (22-27, 10-13 Sun Belt) closed the door on South Alabama (30-17-1, 15-8 Sun Belt) in the seventh inning Friday night to secure a 5-4 victory and even the series.

The Golden Eagles snapped a three-game skid, all which were lost by one run, and took the second game of the South Alabama series by an advantage of one run. While South Alabama threatened to make a comeback, Southern Miss never gave up its lead through the game to take its first game against the Jaguars since April 3, 2019.

Despite a home run from Gabby Stagner in the seventh inning that cut Southern Miss' lead to one, freshman pitcher BrookLynn White and the Golden Eagles recorded two more outs to assure the team's win.

White earned her second career save in the performance, while Southern Miss starter Jana Lee earned her ninth win of the season. Lee threw over four innings, allowing five hits, three runs and three walks with three strikeouts. South Alabama's Tori Miller received her first loss of the season.

After Lee and Miller retired the side in order in the first and Southern Miss was downed in order in the second, South Alabama reached the bases with consecutive singles. However, Lee struck out two batters to end the inning and bring up Southern Miss' bats.

In her first start since April 3, third baseman Kayla Agner led off the third inning with her third double of the season. Agner then advanced home on a throwing error for the game's first run that also saw Shelby Allen reach first base. The Jaguars intentionally walked Hannah Borden and then Allen added a run from another throwing error. Natalie Taylor capped off the inning with an RBI single to put Southern Miss up 3-0.

South Alabama responded at the bottom of the inning, starting the frame with two walks, which led to the team's first run on a sacrifice fly from Gabby Stagner. Olivia Branstetter narrowed the lead to one with an RBI double.

After both sides went down in order in the fourth inning, Southern Miss gained momentum as Allen reached first on South Alabama's third error of the match. Borden then hit a single to drive in Allen for her 150th career RBI, the second most in program history. Taylor loaded the bases with no outs in the frame on a signle to center field. Borden then added Southern Miss' fifth run of the game as Borden scored on a fielder's choice.

The Jaguars chipped away at the lead with an RBI double from Olivia Branstetter in the fifth. White came into the game to relieve Lee, ending her day.
South Alabama's Olivia Lackie came into the circle in relief for Miller, retiring the side in order in Southern Miss' final two innings at-bat.

Stagner hit her 13th home run of the season to narrow the difference to one, but a flyout to Shelby in left field and then a groundout to Maddie Weeks at second base ended the match.

Southern Miss won the match despite being outhit eight to four, marking the team's fifth victory of the season when being outhit. Taylor led the team with two hits for her ninth multi-hit game of the season. With her single in the match, Borden increased her season total to 62 hits. Borden is the 12th player in program history to register a 60-hit season.

Up Next

Southern Miss will conclude its series against South Alabama and the regular season tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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