Softball Splits Doubleheader Saturday at Georgia Southern

STATESBORO, Ga. – Southern Miss Softball (13-15, 1-2 Sun Belt) split its Saturday doubleheader against Georgia Southern, securing a hard-fought win in the opener before falling in the rubber match.

Game One: Southern Miss 2, Georgia Southern 1 (11 Inn.)

Southern Miss battled through an 11-inning thriller to open the day, edging Georgia Southern in a three-hour and 13-minute contest, the longest game of the season and the program's second-longest since a 14-inning contest against LA Tech in 2017.

Georgia Southern pitcher Maddie Johnson held the Golden Eagles scoreless through six innings, but Southern Miss broke through in the seventh to force extra innings and sealed the win with a decisive run in the eleventh.

Graduate student Mikaila Fox led the offense with a career-best four-for-five performance at the plate, becoming the second Golden Eagle this season with a four-hit game this season, following Carrie Green's outing against Alabama State on Wednesday. Southern Miss outhit Georgia Southern eight to six in the game.

In the circle, Natalie Herrington and Kayla Giardina combined for a dominant performance. Herrington started the game, allowing three hits and one earned run over three innings with two strikeouts. Giardina followed with over seven shutout innings in relief, tying her career-high with seven strikeouts.

Georgia Southern scored its lone run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly. The Eagles loaded the bases twice, but Giardina and the Golden Eagle defense held firm, escaping trouble on loaded bases in the fifth with two key strikeouts.

Southern Miss responded in the seventh when Ryanna Valdivia and Kayce Bennett opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Jana Lee loaded the bases on a full-count walk, and pinch runner Paris Ferguson scored on a wild pitch. Initially ruled out at home, the call was overturned after an official review confirmed obstruction at the plate.

Giardina shut down Georgia Southern in extra innings, recording strikeouts to end the eighth, ninth and tenth innings.

The breakthrough came in the eleventh when Lee ripped an RBI double to right center, scoring Valdivia for the go-ahead run. Southern Miss then retired the side in order to secure its first conference win of the season.

Game Two: Georgia Southern 6, Southern Miss 1

Georgia Southern responded with a decisive 6-1 victory in the rubber match, capitalizing on an early lead and holding the Golden Eagles to just three hits.

Southern Miss struck first as Hannah Christian scored on Valdivia's RBI double in the opening frame. However, Georgia Southern answered with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to take control.

BrookLynn White made her sixth appearance of the season in relief, throwing five innings.

Georgia Southern added to its lead with a two-run homer from Delanie Thames in the third and a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Southern Miss had a chance to rally in the sixth after Christian and Green delivered back-to-back singles and Valdivia drew a walk to load the bases. However, a popup to third ended the threat, leaving three runners stranded.

Up Next

Southern Miss returns home to host Nicholls at the Southern Miss Softball Complex on Wednesday, March 19, at 6 p.m.

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