Softball Prepares for First Home Conference Series Against Troy

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball (14-15, 1-2 Sun Belt) prepares for its first home conference series of the season, hosting Troy (20-10, 2-1 Sun Belt) in a three-game series starting Friday at 6 p.m. at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

The Golden Eagles enter the weekend having won seven of their last ten games, including a 10-4 midweek victory on Wednesday versus Nicholls.

Southern Miss' offense exploded for their first multi-home run game of the season, with seniors Jana Lee and Mikaila Fox both launching two-run shots in the third inning. The Golden Eagles scored double-digit runs for the fourth time this season, all of which have been games at home.

Southern Miss enters the weekend with a 10-3 home record, already matching last season's home win total (10-6). The Golden Eagles have posted a .500 or better record at home for three straight seasons, the longest streak for the program since 2008-10. They aim to extend that streak to four seasons for the first time since 2003-06.

Southern Miss will be tested by a Troy team that posted an 18-9 record in nonconference play and started conference play with a series win against Coastal Carolina, who entered last weekend ranked No. 19 in the NCAA RPI. The Trojans rebounded from a loss versus the Chanticleers on Friday with a 12-4 victory Saturday and a 5-1 decision in the rubber match on Sunday.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, March 21 @ 6 p.m.
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/Stats
ESPN+: https://bit.ly/3E0wze6

Saturday, March 22 @ 2 p.m.
Live Stats https://smttt.info/Stats
ESPN+: https://bit.ly/3FwhTUw

Sunday, March 23 @ Noon
Live Stats: https://smttt.info/Stats
ESPN+: https://smttt.info/4izWRD0

Southern Miss Notes

Jana Lee's three strikeouts against Nicholls bring her within one of reaching 200 career strikeouts. She has already matched her season total of 43 strikeouts last season in just 15 appearances.

Mikaila Fox recorded a career-high three RBI against the Colonels. The graduate student has enjoyed a career season, leading the Golden Eagles with a .349 batting average and .889 OPS, producing a career-high 22 hits and 11 RBI.

Freshman Hannah Christian leads the team with ten stolen bases, tied as the sixth most in the Sun Belt and ranking as the most by a Golden Eagle since Lorna Agren's 14 stolen bases in 2023. Christian has also been hit by nine pitches this season, the second most in the Sun Belt and the most for a Golden Eagle since Ciarra Cherry and Destini Brown were each hit by nine pitches in the 2018 season. The leadoff hitter's 25 hits rank as the second most on the team this season, trailing Maddie Weeks' 26 hits.

Freshman pitcher Kayla Giardina ranks in the Sun Belt's top ten with 55 strikeouts after striking out three batters in two shutout innings to seal Southern Miss' victory against Nicholls. Giardina's strikeout total ranks second among Sun Belt freshmen, trailing only Maddie Johnson's (Georgia Southern) 70 strikeouts.

Carrie Green recorded a career-high four hits last Wednesday at Alabama State, becoming the first Golden Eagle to notch three doubles in a game since Katie Cleary in 2014.

Scouting Troy

Troy is led by third-year head coach Eric Newell, who has posted an 87-51-1 record at Troy (.629).

Kayden Dunn leads the Trojans with 31 hits, followed by Taylor McKinney's 30 hits. The pair have combined for 43 RBI and 44 runs scored.

As a team, Troy leads the Sun Belt with a 0.422 on base percentage through 30 games, averaging eight hits a game. The Trojans' 242 hits, 187 runs and .334 batting average rank only behind ULM. Troy also paces the conference with 63 stolen bases, which ranks 17th nationally.

McKinon Howard leads the Sun Belt with a .472 batting average, knocking 25 hits in 53 at-bats.

Alyssa Faircloth leads the Sun Belt with 95 strikeouts, giving up just 50 hits and 26 earned runs. Her 2.31 ERA ranks fifth in the conference and her nine wins trail only Coastal Carolina's Nicolette Picone (14) and Madison Azua (10).

Series History

Troy leads the all-time series between the two programs 21-8, winning seven of the last ten matchups. The Golden Eagles won the last meeting 10-1 on March 30, 2024 in Troy, Ala.

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

Softball Prepares for First Home Conference Series Against Troy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Christian

Mikaila Fox

Kayla Giardina

Carrie Green

Jana Lee

Maddie Weeks

Softball Prepares for First Home Conference Series Against Troy

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Christian

Mikaila Fox

Kayla Giardina

Carrie Green

Jana Lee

Maddie Weeks

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