Softball Set to Host ULM in Key Sun Belt Showdown

HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball (18-18, 5-3 Sun Belt) prepare to host conference-leading ULM (27-13, 7-2 Sun Belt) this weekend at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

The Golden Eagles are coming off an 8-6 loss at Nicholls Wednesday in Thibodaux, La., falling to a late six-run rally in the fifth by the Colonels. The game marked the Golden Eagles' first loss this season when scoring six or more runs and first loss when leading after four innings.

Despite the midweek setback, Southern Miss looks to build on a strong start to conference play, winning four of its last five conference games. The Golden Eagles took two of three from Troy and swept South Alabama before the series finale was canceled due to inclement weather.

ULM enters the weekend at the top of the Sun Belt standings, boasting a 7-2 conference record and riding a five-game winning streak. The Warhawks have swept Troy and Georgia State at home and added a road win at Louisiana. ULM is a perfect 19-0 at home but has posted a 5-10 record in road games this season.

Schedule

Friday, April 4
Vs. ULM
3 p.m.

Saturday, April 5
Vs. ULM (DH)
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.

Southern Miss Notes

Southern Miss has won back-to-back conference series for the first time since joining the Sun Belt and for the first time overall since 2019. The last time Southern Miss won three consecutive conference series was in 2016 (Western Kentucky, UTSA, North Texas).

Southern Miss' 2.67 ERA in conference play ranks third in the conference, trailing only South Alabama and Georgia Southern. The Golden Eagles have held conference opponents to a .245 average, the second lowest in the Sun Belt. Kayla Giardina leads the staff with a 1.62 ERA in conference play (4th Sun Belt), followed by Natalie Herrington's 1.85 ERA (5th Sun Belt).

Freshman outfielder Hannah Christian leads the Golden Eagles with 36 hits, 21 runs and 13 walks, while ranking sixth in the league with ten stolen bases. She enters the wekeend on a nine-game hitting streak, the longest of her career and the team's longest active streak.

Senior infielder Maddie Weeks led the Golden Eagles with four hits in the series against South Alabama last weekend, batting at .571 with a .714 slugging percentage. Weeks recorded a career-high three hits Friday, including a leadoff double in the seventh inning to lead Southern Miss to a 5-4 comeback win against South Alabama. The game marked her ninth multi-hit performance, the most on the team.

Giardina paces the Golden Eagles pitching staff with a 3.25 ERA on the season. Her 63 strikeouts rank second among freshmen in the league, trailing only Georgia Southern pitcher Maddie Johnson's 83 strikeouts.

Senior designated player Jana Lee enters historic territory with 37 career doubles, one shy of tying former teammate Hannah Borden's 38 doubles for the fifth most in program history. With five doubles on the season already, Lee is five doubles away from tying the program record (42).

Scouting ULM

ULM is led by seventh-year head coach Molly Fichtner, who has led the Warhawks to 151 wins during her tenure.

The Warhawks lead the Sun Belt in multiple offensive categories, including highest batting average (.333), runs scored (246), hits (331) and walks (127). Nationally, ULM ranks 13th in hits and 23rd in runs scored.

Three Warhawks lead the Sun Belt in hitting. Morgan Brown, Meagan Brown and Brooklin Lippert each have over 45 hits, combining for 146 hits, 104 runs scored and 91 RBI. Meagan Brown's .412 batting average, 12 doubles and 43 doubles leads the league. Lippert paces the conference with 21 stolen bases, which ranks 11th in the nation.

Maddie Nichols leads ULM with a 3.48 ERA and a 9-4 record in the circle over 76 innings. Dakota Lake follows with a 3.81 ERA over 79 innings, also boasting a 9-4 record and a team-high 55 strikeouts.

ULM Series History

ULM leads the all-time series 22-18, with the Warhawks winning two games of last season's series in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles have won seven of the last ten meetings.

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

Softball Set to Host ULM in Key Sun Belt Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Hannah Christian

Kayla Giardina

Natalie Herrington

Jana Lee

Maddie Weeks

Softball Set to Host ULM in Key Sun Belt Showdown

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Hannah Borden

Hannah Christian

Kayla Giardina

Natalie Herrington

Jana Lee

Maddie Weeks

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