Friday, February 7
Clearwater, Fla. / Eddie C. Moore Complex
3 p.m. CT
Southern Miss
vs
Nebraska
Softball Opens 2025 Season at NFCA Leadoff Classic
2/6/2025 8:45:00 AM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball officially begins its 2025 campaign Friday, competing in five games total this weekend in the NFCAÂ Division I Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla.
The Golden Eagles will face a strong lineup of opponents to open the season, first facing No. 16 Nebraska at 3 p.m. CT, followed shortly with a matchup versus Marshall at 6 p.m. Southern Miss will continue play Saturday against Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky at 2 p.m., before concluding their time at the tournament Sunday against No. 19 Northwestern at 9 a.m.
Southern Miss' trip to Clearwater, Fla. will mark the second straight season the Golden Eagles have started the season in The Sunshine State. The team has started the season on the road for two consecutive seasons for the first time since 2017-2018.
Southern Miss Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7-vs. Nebraska @ 3 p.m. CTÂ
vs. Marshall @ 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 10-vs. Pittsburgh @ 11 a.m. CT
  vs. Kentucky @ 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 11-vs. Northwestern @ 10 a.m. CT
The Golden Eagles feature a squad comprising of 15 returners and 15 newcomers. Nine first-year players are on the roster, the most for the program since the 2014 season.
Key returners include Second Team All-Sun Belt selection Jana Lee, senior outfielder Natalie Taylor, junior outfielder Shelby Allen, graduate student Mikaila Fox, Kinsley Gordon and Maddie Weeks, who were all mainstays in the starting lineup in 2024.Â
Southern Miss' veteran presence is bolstered by upperclassmen transfers Faith Kivett (Southeastern Louisiana), Sam Bodell (Florida Atlantic) and Claire Ginder (Texas State), rounding Southern Miss' senior total to 11.
The Golden Eagles added firepower to their bullpen, bringing in Memphis transfer Abigail Morgan, and welcoming Pearl River CC and Petal High standout Natalie Herrington, as well as former Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year Jolie Hays, and right-handers Olivia Christian and Kayla Giardina.
2024 Highlights
Southern Miss concluded the season with a 22-29 record (10-14 Sun Belt), making the conference tournament for the second straight season, the first consecutive conference tournament appearance for the program since 2012-2013.
The Golden Eagles picked up series wins at home against Marshall, a sweep of Georgia State and a win at home versus No. 24 Texas State, which was the program's first victory against a nationally ranked opponent since beating No. 4 Florida on March 2, 2022.
Two Golden Eagles earned all-conference honors last season, including returner Jana Lee's Second Team All-Sun Belt selection and former graduate student catcher Hannah Borden's First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team NFCA South Region Team selections. The one-two duo accounted for 100 hits on the season, including 24 doubles and 23 home runs for a combined 77 RBI.Â
Borden started all 50 games in her final season as the Golden Eagles' catcher, leading the team in nearly every offensive category; she recorded the team's 12th 60-hit season in program history, posted a conference-best .775 slugging percentage, and sailed into the record books with a single-season record and conference-leading 18 home runs, which also helped shatter Southern Miss' all-time home run record with 50 career homers. Borden also finished her career at Southern second in all-time hits (208), RBI (150) and walks (107).
Lee looks to build on a career-high season in 2024, in which she recorded 39 hits, the third most on the team, in only 40 games, batting at .320 with a .566 slugging percentage. Lee's season total of 15 home runs ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and the Albany, Ga. native also appeared in 26 games in the circle, leading the team's pitching staff with nine wins and 40 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched, earning six wins in conference play. She 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.
The Golden Eagles finished the 2024 home slate with a 10-6 record, marking the third consecutive season that the team has recorded a .500 or better standing at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, the longest streak since 2008-2010.
Scouting the Competition
No. 16 Nebraska
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Series History
Southern Miss hosted No. 3 Nebraska in 2003 in the two team's only prior meeting, falling 5-0.
Marshall
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Series History
Marshall leads the all-time series 23-17. Entering Hattiesburg last season in March, The Herd had won 10 of the last 11 matchups, but the Golden Eagles took the series with two consecutive wins.
Pittsburgh
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Series History
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Kentucky
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Series History
No. 19 Northwestern
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For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
The Golden Eagles will face a strong lineup of opponents to open the season, first facing No. 16 Nebraska at 3 p.m. CT, followed shortly with a matchup versus Marshall at 6 p.m. Southern Miss will continue play Saturday against Pittsburgh at 11 a.m. and Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky at 2 p.m., before concluding their time at the tournament Sunday against No. 19 Northwestern at 9 a.m.
Southern Miss' trip to Clearwater, Fla. will mark the second straight season the Golden Eagles have started the season in The Sunshine State. The team has started the season on the road for two consecutive seasons for the first time since 2017-2018.
Southern Miss Schedule
Friday, Feb. 7-vs. Nebraska @ 3 p.m. CTÂ
vs. Marshall @ 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, Feb. 10-vs. Pittsburgh @ 11 a.m. CT
  vs. Kentucky @ 2 p.m. CT
Sunday, Feb. 11-vs. Northwestern @ 10 a.m. CT
The Golden Eagles feature a squad comprising of 15 returners and 15 newcomers. Nine first-year players are on the roster, the most for the program since the 2014 season.
Key returners include Second Team All-Sun Belt selection Jana Lee, senior outfielder Natalie Taylor, junior outfielder Shelby Allen, graduate student Mikaila Fox, Kinsley Gordon and Maddie Weeks, who were all mainstays in the starting lineup in 2024.Â
Southern Miss' veteran presence is bolstered by upperclassmen transfers Faith Kivett (Southeastern Louisiana), Sam Bodell (Florida Atlantic) and Claire Ginder (Texas State), rounding Southern Miss' senior total to 11.
The Golden Eagles added firepower to their bullpen, bringing in Memphis transfer Abigail Morgan, and welcoming Pearl River CC and Petal High standout Natalie Herrington, as well as former Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year Jolie Hays, and right-handers Olivia Christian and Kayla Giardina.
2024 Highlights
Southern Miss concluded the season with a 22-29 record (10-14 Sun Belt), making the conference tournament for the second straight season, the first consecutive conference tournament appearance for the program since 2012-2013.
The Golden Eagles picked up series wins at home against Marshall, a sweep of Georgia State and a win at home versus No. 24 Texas State, which was the program's first victory against a nationally ranked opponent since beating No. 4 Florida on March 2, 2022.
Two Golden Eagles earned all-conference honors last season, including returner Jana Lee's Second Team All-Sun Belt selection and former graduate student catcher Hannah Borden's First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team NFCA South Region Team selections. The one-two duo accounted for 100 hits on the season, including 24 doubles and 23 home runs for a combined 77 RBI.Â
Borden started all 50 games in her final season as the Golden Eagles' catcher, leading the team in nearly every offensive category; she recorded the team's 12th 60-hit season in program history, posted a conference-best .775 slugging percentage, and sailed into the record books with a single-season record and conference-leading 18 home runs, which also helped shatter Southern Miss' all-time home run record with 50 career homers. Borden also finished her career at Southern second in all-time hits (208), RBI (150) and walks (107).
Lee looks to build on a career-high season in 2024, in which she recorded 39 hits, the third most on the team, in only 40 games, batting at .320 with a .566 slugging percentage. Lee's season total of 15 home runs ranked fourth in the Sun Belt and the Albany, Ga. native also appeared in 26 games in the circle, leading the team's pitching staff with nine wins and 40 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched, earning six wins in conference play. She 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.
The Golden Eagles finished the 2024 home slate with a 10-6 record, marking the third consecutive season that the team has recorded a .500 or better standing at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, the longest streak since 2008-2010.
Scouting the Competition
No. 16 Nebraska
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- Nebraska is led by head coach Rhonda Revelle, who enters her 33rd season with the Huskers as the winningest coach in program history.
- The Cornhuskers finished with a 30-23 overall record and a 12-9 conference standing in the Big Ten. The Huskers finished in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament.
- Nebraska was ranked in all four preseason polls, ranked No. 19 by the NFCA, No. 14 by D1 Softball, No. 16 by ESPN/USA Softball and No. 21 by Softball America.
- Nebraska returns 14 letterwinners from last season and welcomes 11 newcomers, including six transfers and five freshmen.
Series History
Southern Miss hosted No. 3 Nebraska in 2003 in the two team's only prior meeting, falling 5-0.
Marshall
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- Marshall is led by second-year head coach Morgan Zerkle, a 2017 All-American player for The Herd.
- Marshall returns 12 letterwinners and welcomes 11 newcomers, including seven freshmen and four transfers.
- The Herd are led by 2024 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Brooklyn Ulrich, who led the team with a .349 average last season, leading the Sun Belt along with teammate Bella Gerlach with 48 RBI.
- Marshall was picked to finish ninth in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll.
Series History
Marshall leads the all-time series 23-17. Entering Hattiesburg last season in March, The Herd had won 10 of the last 11 matchups, but the Golden Eagles took the series with two consecutive wins.
Pittsburgh
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- Pittsburgh is led by head coach Jenny Allard, who enters her 30th season as a head coach, compiling a 705-552-4 overall record.
- The Panthers concluded last season 17-32 (6-18 ACC). Pittsburgh returns key players including centerfielder Kylie Griggs, shortstop Ana Hernandez and starting catcher KK Esparza.
- Freshman pitcher Gwen Sparks was named to the Softball America Freshman Watch List.
Series History
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- Southern Miss leads the all-time series between Pittsburgh 4-0.
Kentucky
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- Kentucky is led by head coach Rachel Lawson, who enters her 18th season with the Wildcats as the program's winningest coach, having posted a 597-360-1 record.
- The Wildcats qualified for their 15th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance after finishing the season with a 31-24 record.
- Kentucky was picked to finish 11th in the SEC Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Series History
- Southern Miss leads the all-time series against Kentucky 2-1, with the Wildcats picking up its first win against Golden Eagles in the last meeting on Feb. 10, 2007.
No. 19 Northwestern
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- Northwestern is led by head coach Kate Drohan, who earned her sixth Big Ten Coach of the Year award in 2024, her fourth in the past five seasons. 2025 marks Drohan's 24th season, becoming the program's longest-tenured head coach.
- Northwestern claimed its third consecutive Big Ten conference championship and earned its sixth straight NCAA Tournament berth in 2024.
- Kansas Robinson was named a Second-Team Preseason All-American, while also earning First Team All-Big Ten and NFCA First Team All-Great Lakes Region Selections in 2024 after finishing her sophomore season with a .486 on-base percentage. The Wildcats also return Kelsey Nader, a First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
Players Mentioned
OF
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C
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C
/ Softball
RHP/INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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INF
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INF
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LHP
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RHP
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INF/UT
/ Softball
RHP
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OF
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INF
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