Sunday, February 16
Ruston, La. / Dr. Billy Bundrick Field
10 a.m.
Southern Miss
2-6
3
vs
12
Arkansas
9-0
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Arkansas
1
2
0
9
0
12
11
0
Southern Miss
3
0
0
0
0
3
3
2
Softball Drops Two Matches on Final Day of LA Tech Classic
2/16/2025 7:34:00 PM | Softball
RUSTON, La.-Southern Miss Softball (2-7, 0-0 Sun Belt) lost its final two matches at the LA Tech Classic Sunday, falling against No. 13 Arkansas and Louisiana Tech.
Game One: No. 13 Arkansas 12-Southern Miss 3 (5 Inn.)
Southern Miss dropped its rematch against No. 13 Arkansas (9-0, 0-0 SEC) 12-3 in five innings to start their second day at the Louisiana Tech Classic.Â
Despite the game being tied after three innings of play, the Razorbacks pulled ahead with nine runs in the fourth inning to earn their fourth consecutive run-rule decision and protect an undefeated record to start the season.Â
While the Razorbacks earned an early lead at the top of the first with a sacrifice fly that sent Rea Johnson home after her leadoff triple, the Golden Eagles responded in the following frame.Â
Freshman Hannah Christian singled to third base and then stole second, as Jana Lee followed by drawing a walk on a full count. Stepping up to the plate, senior second baseman Maddie Weeks launched a three-run home run shot to put Southern Miss up 3-1. The round-tripper marked her second straight game with a home run after she recorded her first on Saturday against the Razorbacks.
Arkansas soon tied the match with four hits in the second inning and prevented Southern Miss from scoring for the remainder of the match, despite the Golden Eagles placing two on base in the bottom of the third with Christian's second hit of the match and a walk from Weeks.
The Razorbacks then launched their nine-run inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Bri Ellis, who hit her fourth home run at the LA Tech Classic.Â
Natalie Herrington received the loss, throwing three innings with seven hits and four runs allowed in her third appearance. Abigail Morgan, Jolie Hays and BrookLynn White also pitched in relief for Southern Miss. Meanwhile, Arkansas' Cam Harrison earned her first win of the season with eight strikeouts and three hits and three runs allowed.
Makayla Peters, Bella Ramon, and Sam Bodell made their season debut in the match, coming into the game in the fourth inning.
Game Two: Louisiana Tech 7-Southern Miss 4
Southern Miss surrendered a late fifth-inning run to the Bulldogs in their final game in Ruston, falling 7-4 in their first meeting against Louisiana Tech since 2022.
While the Golden Eagles were tied with the Bulldogs at 2-2 after four innings, Louisiana Tech powered ahead with four runs in the fifth, capitalized by a two-run home run shot from Reagan Marchant.
Prior to the Bulldogs' run, Southern Miss had taken an early 2-0 lead, as starting pitcher Kayla Giardina threw four shutout innings. Giardina threw three innings, giving up six hits and two runs with three strikeouts in her performance.
The Golden Eagles plated their first run of the game in the third inning, as shortstop Claire Ginder started the frame with a leadoff single. Jana Lee followed soon with an RBI single to send Ginder home. Southern Miss tallied another run in the following inning as Kayce Bennett sent Natalie Taylor home on a sacrifice fly.
The Bulldogs gained momentum at the bottom of the fourth, starting the inning with two singles and then earning two runs from a 2RBI single by Paris Endris. Lee relieved Giardina in the frame, ending the inning with a strikeout.
Coming up to bat with two outs in the inning, Lee hit her second double of the day to score Hannah Christian and push Southern Miss up front again.Â
However, the Bulldogs soon mounted their four-run outing in the following frame to take a 6-3 lead. LA Tech added insurance with an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth.
Southern Miss attempted a comeback, as Ginder earned her second hit of the game with a leadoff single. After Shelby Allen advanced to third on two wild pitches, Christian singled and stole her second base of the game, which brought Allen home on the throw. Lee drew a walk to put runners on the corners again, but LA Tech pitcher Allie Floyd notched two straight strikeouts to end the game.Â
Floyd earned her fourth win of the season in the performance with seven strikeouts in the circle for the Bulldogs.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles return home to host the Jackson State Tigers Wednesday, February 19 at 6 p.m. at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Â
Game One: No. 13 Arkansas 12-Southern Miss 3 (5 Inn.)
Southern Miss dropped its rematch against No. 13 Arkansas (9-0, 0-0 SEC) 12-3 in five innings to start their second day at the Louisiana Tech Classic.Â
Despite the game being tied after three innings of play, the Razorbacks pulled ahead with nine runs in the fourth inning to earn their fourth consecutive run-rule decision and protect an undefeated record to start the season.Â
While the Razorbacks earned an early lead at the top of the first with a sacrifice fly that sent Rea Johnson home after her leadoff triple, the Golden Eagles responded in the following frame.Â
Freshman Hannah Christian singled to third base and then stole second, as Jana Lee followed by drawing a walk on a full count. Stepping up to the plate, senior second baseman Maddie Weeks launched a three-run home run shot to put Southern Miss up 3-1. The round-tripper marked her second straight game with a home run after she recorded her first on Saturday against the Razorbacks.
Arkansas soon tied the match with four hits in the second inning and prevented Southern Miss from scoring for the remainder of the match, despite the Golden Eagles placing two on base in the bottom of the third with Christian's second hit of the match and a walk from Weeks.
The Razorbacks then launched their nine-run inning, highlighted by a grand slam from Bri Ellis, who hit her fourth home run at the LA Tech Classic.Â
Natalie Herrington received the loss, throwing three innings with seven hits and four runs allowed in her third appearance. Abigail Morgan, Jolie Hays and BrookLynn White also pitched in relief for Southern Miss. Meanwhile, Arkansas' Cam Harrison earned her first win of the season with eight strikeouts and three hits and three runs allowed.
Makayla Peters, Bella Ramon, and Sam Bodell made their season debut in the match, coming into the game in the fourth inning.
Game Two: Louisiana Tech 7-Southern Miss 4
Southern Miss surrendered a late fifth-inning run to the Bulldogs in their final game in Ruston, falling 7-4 in their first meeting against Louisiana Tech since 2022.
While the Golden Eagles were tied with the Bulldogs at 2-2 after four innings, Louisiana Tech powered ahead with four runs in the fifth, capitalized by a two-run home run shot from Reagan Marchant.
Prior to the Bulldogs' run, Southern Miss had taken an early 2-0 lead, as starting pitcher Kayla Giardina threw four shutout innings. Giardina threw three innings, giving up six hits and two runs with three strikeouts in her performance.
The Golden Eagles plated their first run of the game in the third inning, as shortstop Claire Ginder started the frame with a leadoff single. Jana Lee followed soon with an RBI single to send Ginder home. Southern Miss tallied another run in the following inning as Kayce Bennett sent Natalie Taylor home on a sacrifice fly.
The Bulldogs gained momentum at the bottom of the fourth, starting the inning with two singles and then earning two runs from a 2RBI single by Paris Endris. Lee relieved Giardina in the frame, ending the inning with a strikeout.
Coming up to bat with two outs in the inning, Lee hit her second double of the day to score Hannah Christian and push Southern Miss up front again.Â
However, the Bulldogs soon mounted their four-run outing in the following frame to take a 6-3 lead. LA Tech added insurance with an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth.
Southern Miss attempted a comeback, as Ginder earned her second hit of the game with a leadoff single. After Shelby Allen advanced to third on two wild pitches, Christian singled and stole her second base of the game, which brought Allen home on the throw. Lee drew a walk to put runners on the corners again, but LA Tech pitcher Allie Floyd notched two straight strikeouts to end the game.Â
Floyd earned her fourth win of the season in the performance with seven strikeouts in the circle for the Bulldogs.
Up Next
The Golden Eagles return home to host the Jackson State Tigers Wednesday, February 19 at 6 p.m. at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Floyd,Allie (4-2)
L: Lee, Jana (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Lee, Jana 1
RBI: Lee, Jana 2 ; Bennett, Kayce 1
SH: Taylor, Natalie 1
SF: Bennett, Kayce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Christian, Hannah 1 ; Taylor, Natalie 1 ; Ginder, Claire 1 ; Allen, Shelby 1
SB: Christian, Hannah 2 ; Taylor, Natalie 1
HBP: Christian, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Raley,Claire 1
3B: Gilio,Alexis 1
HR: Marchant,Reagan 1
RBI: Gilio,Alexis 1 ; Rogers,Alannah 1 ; Marchant,Reagan 2 ; Endris,Paris 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Heng,Elena 1 ; Gilio,Alexis 1 ; Rogers,Alannah 2 ; Marchant,Reagan 1 ; Raley,Claire 1 ; Furr,Allie 1
SB: Heng,Elena 1 ; Raley,Claire 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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