Friday, February 28
Hattiesburg, Miss. / Southern Miss Softball Complex
11:30 a.m.
Southern Miss
4-11
0
vs
4
Jacksonville State
11-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Jacksonville State
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
4
7
2
Southern Miss
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
Softball Rebounds at Black & Gold Challenge with Shutout Win Behind Herrington's Two-Hitter
2/28/2025 10:21:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Softball (5-11, 0-0 Sun Belt) wrapped up the opening day of the Black & Gold Challenge with a 4-0 shutout victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
The Golden Eagles rebounded from a 4-0 loss against Jacksonville State earlier in the day, powered by a strong outing from Petal, Miss., native Natalie Herrington, who tossed a two-hitter to secure her second career win in the circle and her first career complete game shutout.
Game One: Jax State 4-Southern Miss 0
Southern Miss opened the day against Jacksonville State, looking to rally after the Gamecocks plated two runs in consecutive innings.
Jaliyah Holmes and the Jacksonville State defense stifled the Golden Eagles, allowing just one hit in the final three frames to seal their 2-0 start in the tournament. Holmes earned her second win of the season with a complete-game performance, surrendering five hits and two walks while striking out four. Southern Miss starter Jana Lee received the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Freshman leadoff hitter Hannah Christian paced the Golden Eagle offense with two hits, recording her third career multi-hit game. Maddie Weeks, Mikaila Fox, and Natalie Taylor each added singles.
Freshman pitcher Kayla Giardina provided three shutout innings in relief, striking out four and allowing no hits.
Game Two: Southern Miss 4-UAPB 0
Southern Miss found its rhythm in the afternoon matchup, securing its second shutout win of the season behind Herrington's first career complete-game shutout.
Herrington allowed just two hits while cruising through seven innings on just 73 pitches. The Golden Eagles' defense complemented the strong performance, highlighted by a double play turned in the fourth inning.
Weeks and freshman outfielder Carrie Green led the offensive effort with two hits apiece, with Green posting a career-high multi-hit game.
Taylor also recorded her first double of the season, setting up the team's opening run on an RBI groundout by Claire Ginder in the second inning.
Freshman Abbi Troquille came off the bench to register her first career hit, an RBI single that scored Ryanna Valdivia in the third. Troquille later crossed home on a wild pitch, tallying her first career run.
Following hits from Lee and Green to kickstart the sixth, Weeks provided an insurance run with an RBI single.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff managed a single in the seventh, but Southern Miss quickly shut the door to secure its third home victory of the season.
Up Next
Southern Miss will play two games Saturday, starting with a matchup against Louisiana Tech at 11:30 a.m. and then against Lamar at 4:30 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
For more information on the Black & Gold Challenge, visit https://smttt.info/blackandgoldchallenge.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
The Golden Eagles rebounded from a 4-0 loss against Jacksonville State earlier in the day, powered by a strong outing from Petal, Miss., native Natalie Herrington, who tossed a two-hitter to secure her second career win in the circle and her first career complete game shutout.
Game One: Jax State 4-Southern Miss 0
Southern Miss opened the day against Jacksonville State, looking to rally after the Gamecocks plated two runs in consecutive innings.
Jaliyah Holmes and the Jacksonville State defense stifled the Golden Eagles, allowing just one hit in the final three frames to seal their 2-0 start in the tournament. Holmes earned her second win of the season with a complete-game performance, surrendering five hits and two walks while striking out four. Southern Miss starter Jana Lee received the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Freshman leadoff hitter Hannah Christian paced the Golden Eagle offense with two hits, recording her third career multi-hit game. Maddie Weeks, Mikaila Fox, and Natalie Taylor each added singles.
Freshman pitcher Kayla Giardina provided three shutout innings in relief, striking out four and allowing no hits.
Game Two: Southern Miss 4-UAPB 0
Southern Miss found its rhythm in the afternoon matchup, securing its second shutout win of the season behind Herrington's first career complete-game shutout.
Herrington allowed just two hits while cruising through seven innings on just 73 pitches. The Golden Eagles' defense complemented the strong performance, highlighted by a double play turned in the fourth inning.
Weeks and freshman outfielder Carrie Green led the offensive effort with two hits apiece, with Green posting a career-high multi-hit game.
Taylor also recorded her first double of the season, setting up the team's opening run on an RBI groundout by Claire Ginder in the second inning.
Freshman Abbi Troquille came off the bench to register her first career hit, an RBI single that scored Ryanna Valdivia in the third. Troquille later crossed home on a wild pitch, tallying her first career run.
Following hits from Lee and Green to kickstart the sixth, Weeks provided an insurance run with an RBI single.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff managed a single in the seventh, but Southern Miss quickly shut the door to secure its third home victory of the season.
Up Next
Southern Miss will play two games Saturday, starting with a matchup against Louisiana Tech at 11:30 a.m. and then against Lamar at 4:30 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
For more information on the Black & Gold Challenge, visit https://smttt.info/blackandgoldchallenge.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jaliyah Holmes (2-2)
L: Lee, Jana (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Ashley Phillips 1 ; Jaci Underwood 1
RBI: Morgan Nowakowski 1 ; Jaci Underwood 2
SH: Abbi Perkins 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Emma Elrod 1 ; Ashley Phillips 1 ; Aria Davis 1 ; Jaci Underwood 1
SB: Emma Elrod 1 ; Jaci Underwood 1
Batting:
SH: Lee, Jana 1
Base Running:
CS: Christian, Hannah 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
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