Softball Preps for Opening Round of Sun Belt Conference Championship Against James Madison

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball (22-28, 10-14 Sun Belt) heads to San Marcos, Texas, as the No. 9 seed in the Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship tournament, scheduled to face James Madison (30-21, 12-12 Sun Belt) in the opening round Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT.

Following last season's first postseason appearance since 2019, the Golden Eagles have secured consecutive conference tournament appearances for the first time since 2012-2013.

Southern Miss finished the 2024 season with a 10-14 standing in conference play, with series wins at home against Marshall, a sweep of Georgia State and a win at home versus No. 24 Texas State, the program's first victory against a nationally ranked opponent since March 2, 2022 against No. 4 Florida.

Game 51: Southern Miss (22-28, 10-14 Sun Belt) vs. JMU (30-21, 12-12 Sun Belt)
Sun Belt Conference Tournament Game 1
Bobcat Softball Stadium
San Marcos, Texas
ESPN+: https://es.pn/4a2IIct
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/3QyHNd9
Championship Central: https://smttt.info/4bpzb06

Southern Miss Notables

Hannah Borden was named First Team All-Sun Belt Tuesday afternoon. In her final year at Southern Miss, Borden started all 50 games as the Golden Eagles' catcher, leading the team in nearly every offensive category. Borden recorded 61 hits, registering the team's 12th 60-hit season in program history, with a .381 batting average (No. 8 Sun Belt) and a conference-best .775 slugging percentage. Borden sailed into the program's record books with a single-season record and conference-leading 18 home runs, shattering Southern Miss's all-time home run record with 50 career homers. Borden's 47 RBI ranked third in the conference and moved her to second in program history with 150 RBI, while her sixth-ranked 27 walks also gave her possession for the second most walks in program history (107 ). Borden drew 18 walks alone in conference play, which ranked second in the Sun Belt. The Trussville, Ala. native was one of seven players to bat above .400 in conference play and led the league with a 1.485 OPS. Borden enjoyed a stellar start to the season, tallying a career-long 16-game hitting streak, which ranked as the second-longest streak in the nation at the time. Borden recorded 16 multi-hit games, including two games with two home runs, one of two players to do so in the league. Borden completed every pitch of the season behind the plate for Southern Miss, reaching 1,000 career putouts with 96 on the season, boasting a .991 fielding percentage.

Junior designated player and pitcher Jana Lee was named to the Second Team All-Sun Belt Tuesday. Lee recorded 39 hits, the third most on the team, in 40 games played in 2024, batting at .320 with a .566 slugging percentage. Lee's season total of 15 home runs ranked fourth in the Sun Belt. Lee also appeared in 26 games in the circle, leading the Southern Miss pitching staff with nine wins and 40 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched, including four complete games and a complete game shutout. Her six wins in conference play ranked the sixth most in the league. After missing time due to an injury early in the season, Lee returned to the lineup at the start of conference play. The Albany, Ga. native recorded 26 hits in conference play, including a third-ranked eight doubles along with four home runs. Lee became the first Southern Miss player to earn the Sun Belt's Player of the Week honor in the second week of conference play, producing eight hits with four consecutive multi-hit performances. Lee hit three doubles throughout the week and also launched a three-run home run to help earn the honor.

The Golden Eagles finished the 2024 home slate with a 10-6 record, marking the third consecutive season the team has recorded a .500 or above standing at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, the longest streak since 2008-2010.

Southern Miss won its first conference series at home in the Sun Belt against Marshall and completed its first sweep in the conference versus Georgia State this season.

In its inaugural season in the Sun Belt last year, Southern Miss faced Coastal Carolina in the opening round of the conference tournament. The Chanticleers prevailed an extra-inning battle 4-2.

Scouting James Madison

JMU is led by seventh-year head coach Loren LaPorte.

The Dukes' .313 batting average, 433 hits and 259 RBI all ranked third in the conference this season. JMU led the league with 82 doubles and 69 home runs.

The Dukes boast a .977 fielding percentage, the highest mark in the conference.

Butler Reed led the Dukes with 69 hits, which rank fifth in the conference, along with a conference-high 52 runs scored and third-best .418 batting average. Reed and teammate Bella Henzler each recorded 11 home runs, tied for the sixth most in the Sun Belt. The pair was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team Tuesday afternoon.

Jasmine Hall and KK Mathis each recorded 13 doubles, tied for the sixth most in the league. The pair combined for 113 hits this season.

Alissa Humphrey paced the JMU pitching staff with a 2.83 ERA in the regular season with 11 wins. Kirsten Fleet followed with a 3.28 ERA through a team-high 102 innings pitched along with Payton Lists's ten wins and 5.31 ERA through 85 innings. List was named the Sun Belt's Freshman of the Year and made the All-Sun Belt First Team.

James Madison Series History

Southern Miss and JMU met for the first time earlier this season in the River City Leadoff in Jacksonville, Fla. The Golden Eagles won the match 3-2, led by Lee's two-run home run shot and save in the circle.

The winner of game one will face the four-time reigning Sun Belt champions and the No. 1 seed Louisiana on Thursday, May 9 at 10 a.m. CT.

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

Softball Preps for Opening Round of Sun Belt Conference Championship Against James Madison

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Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Jana Lee

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Softball Preps for Opening Round of Sun Belt Conference Championship Against James Madison

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Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Jana Lee

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