Saturday, April 5
Hattiesburg, Miss. / Southern Miss Softball Complex
11 a.m.
Southern Miss
27-15, 0
9
vs
5
ULM
20-18, 0
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3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
ULM
0
0
4
0
0
0
1
5
11
1
Southern Miss
2
0
0
4
3
0
X
9
14
0
Softball Clinches Series Win Over ULM with Doubleheader Split
4/5/2025 7:33:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-Southern Miss Softball (20-19, 7-4 Sun Belt) secured a key conference series victory over ULM (28-15, 8-4 Sun Belt) on Saturday, taking the opening game of the doubleheader before falling 12-7 in the finale.
After opening the weekend with a thrilling 7-6 walk-off win Friday night, the Golden Eagles clinched the series with a 9-5 win in Saturday's opener, marking their third straight conference series win, the program's longest such streak since 2016.
Southern Miss' bats stayed hot throughout the weekend, piling up 25 hits across both games Saturday, including double-digit efforts in each. The Golden Eagles have now posted 10 or more hits in four straight contests for the second time this season and have reached double figures 14 times overall, just one shy of their most in a season since 2019.
Freshman leadoff hitter Hannah Christian enjoyed a career day, tallying six hits with three apiece in each game. Christian also added four runs, four RBI and her team-leading 11th stolen base of the season. Graduate student Mikaila Fox also recorded two hits in each game, including three extra-base hits. Â
Game 1: Southern Miss 9- ULM 5
Southern Miss fired on all cylinders to rally from an early deficit, recording 14 hits, their second-highest total in a conference game since joining the Sun Belt. Southern Miss poured seven runs in two innings, taking a commanding lead for the series-clinching victory.
Christian led the charge with a perfect three-for-three outing, also scoring three runs. Fox added a pair of hits and drove in four runs, with a sacrifice fly, double and her first career triple. Maddie Weeks and Kayce Bennett also added two hits and freshman Carrie Green earned three hits in the performance.
Olivia Christian picked up her first career win in relief of Natalie Herrington, while Kayla Giardina earned her third save of the season by tossing the final three innings.
While the Golden Eagles started with a 2-0 lead after the first, ULM knocked six hits in the third to score four runs. However, Southern Miss erased its two-run deficit in the fourth, plating four runs on five hits.Â
Weeks started the scoring action with an RBI single, followed by Fox's two-RBI triple. Bennett sent Fox home on an RBI single through the left side to cap the scoring and bring in a new pitcher for ULM.
Southern Miss found itself down two outs early in the bottom of the fifth but strung together four straight hits to add three more runs to its lead. After Green singled and stole second to advance into scoring position, Christian sent her home on an RBI single. Weeks scored Christian on a single up the middle and then was brought home by Fox's second extra-base hit on an RBI double to right center.
ULM scored one run in the seventh to cut into the lead, but Southern Miss to lock up the win.
Game 2: ULM 12-Southern Miss 7
Despite a late rally and a ten-hit effort, Southern Miss fell 12-7 in the series finale as the Warhawks pulled away with seven runs in the fifth inning.
Southern Miss trailed 5-0 after three innings but stormed back with five runs in the fourth. Southern Miss drew four walks in the frame, loading the bases shortly following Christian's RBI single with no outs. Lee forced a run home with a bases-loaded walk on a full count. Abbi Troquille then hit an RBI single, followed by the equalizing two-RBI single from Ryanna Valdivia.
However, ULM quickly reclaimed control with seven runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of six hits and two Golden Eagle errors.
Christian, who recorded her first career triple in the fifth, added a two-RBI single in the seventh to bring Southern Miss within five, but the Warhawks closed the door with a double play and a flyout to avoid the sweep.
However, the Warhawks avoided the series sweep by turning a double play and then recording a final out on a fly out to center field.
Four pitchers saw action for Southern Miss in a nearly three-hour contest played through windy and rainy conditions. Herrington was tagged with the loss, while ULM's Dakota Lake collected her 10th win of the season.
Southern Miss Notes
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Up Next
Southern Miss returns to the Softball Complex next weekend for a pivotal Sun Belt series against Texas State. The program will celebrate Alumni Weekend, including recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the Women's College World Series team. First pitch of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
For the latest information on Southern Miss Softball, follow the program on Facebook (facebook.com/SouthernMissSB), Twitter (@SouthernMissSB) and Instagram (@southernmisssb).
After opening the weekend with a thrilling 7-6 walk-off win Friday night, the Golden Eagles clinched the series with a 9-5 win in Saturday's opener, marking their third straight conference series win, the program's longest such streak since 2016.
Southern Miss' bats stayed hot throughout the weekend, piling up 25 hits across both games Saturday, including double-digit efforts in each. The Golden Eagles have now posted 10 or more hits in four straight contests for the second time this season and have reached double figures 14 times overall, just one shy of their most in a season since 2019.
Freshman leadoff hitter Hannah Christian enjoyed a career day, tallying six hits with three apiece in each game. Christian also added four runs, four RBI and her team-leading 11th stolen base of the season. Graduate student Mikaila Fox also recorded two hits in each game, including three extra-base hits. Â
Game 1: Southern Miss 9- ULM 5
Southern Miss fired on all cylinders to rally from an early deficit, recording 14 hits, their second-highest total in a conference game since joining the Sun Belt. Southern Miss poured seven runs in two innings, taking a commanding lead for the series-clinching victory.
Christian led the charge with a perfect three-for-three outing, also scoring three runs. Fox added a pair of hits and drove in four runs, with a sacrifice fly, double and her first career triple. Maddie Weeks and Kayce Bennett also added two hits and freshman Carrie Green earned three hits in the performance.
Olivia Christian picked up her first career win in relief of Natalie Herrington, while Kayla Giardina earned her third save of the season by tossing the final three innings.
While the Golden Eagles started with a 2-0 lead after the first, ULM knocked six hits in the third to score four runs. However, Southern Miss erased its two-run deficit in the fourth, plating four runs on five hits.Â
Weeks started the scoring action with an RBI single, followed by Fox's two-RBI triple. Bennett sent Fox home on an RBI single through the left side to cap the scoring and bring in a new pitcher for ULM.
Southern Miss found itself down two outs early in the bottom of the fifth but strung together four straight hits to add three more runs to its lead. After Green singled and stole second to advance into scoring position, Christian sent her home on an RBI single. Weeks scored Christian on a single up the middle and then was brought home by Fox's second extra-base hit on an RBI double to right center.
ULM scored one run in the seventh to cut into the lead, but Southern Miss to lock up the win.
Game 2: ULM 12-Southern Miss 7
Despite a late rally and a ten-hit effort, Southern Miss fell 12-7 in the series finale as the Warhawks pulled away with seven runs in the fifth inning.
Southern Miss trailed 5-0 after three innings but stormed back with five runs in the fourth. Southern Miss drew four walks in the frame, loading the bases shortly following Christian's RBI single with no outs. Lee forced a run home with a bases-loaded walk on a full count. Abbi Troquille then hit an RBI single, followed by the equalizing two-RBI single from Ryanna Valdivia.
However, ULM quickly reclaimed control with seven runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of six hits and two Golden Eagle errors.
Christian, who recorded her first career triple in the fifth, added a two-RBI single in the seventh to bring Southern Miss within five, but the Warhawks closed the door with a double play and a flyout to avoid the sweep.
However, the Warhawks avoided the series sweep by turning a double play and then recording a final out on a fly out to center field.
Four pitchers saw action for Southern Miss in a nearly three-hour contest played through windy and rainy conditions. Herrington was tagged with the loss, while ULM's Dakota Lake collected her 10th win of the season.
Southern Miss Notes
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- Jana Lee moved up the program leaderboards with a double, tying her former teammate Hannah Borden, for the fifth most doubles in program history (38). Lee is four doubles away from tying the program record of 42, set by Tata Davis.
- Lee also drew a career-high three walks in the series finale against the Warhawks.
- Christian extends her hitting streak to 12 games, which is the longest of her career and the team's longest active streak.
- Southern Miss' five runs scored in the fourth inning against ULM is the most scored in an inning in conference play this season.
- Shelby Allen tallied her fourth multi-hit performance of the season and third in conference play. Since earning her first conference start last weekend at South Alabama, Allen has recorded eight hits in five games.
- The Golden Eagles have secured a .500 or better home record for the fourth consecutive season, a feat last accomplished from 2003-2006. Southern Miss is now 14-6 at home, including 4-2 in Sun Belt play.Â
- The Golden Eagles' 7-4 conference record marks their best start in league play since joining the Sun Belt and their best through 11 conference games since 2006 (7-4).
Up Next
Southern Miss returns to the Softball Complex next weekend for a pivotal Sun Belt series against Texas State. The program will celebrate Alumni Weekend, including recognition of the 25th Anniversary of the Women's College World Series team. First pitch of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
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: Christian, Olivia (1-0)
L: Nichols, Maddie (9-5)
S: Giardina, Kayla (3)
Batting:
2B: Zenzen, Maryssa 1
RBI: Brown, Meagan 2 ; Zenzen, Maryssa 1 ; Thompson, Layla 2
SH: Brown, Meagan 1
SF: Thompson, Layla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brown, Meagan 2 ; Brown, Morgan 1 ; Buck, Jacelyn 1 ; Platt, Carys 1
Batting:
2B: Fox, Mikaila 1 ; Lee, Jana 1
3B: Fox, Mikaila 1
RBI: Christian, Hannah 1 ; Weeks, Maddie 2 ; Fox, Mikaila 4 ; Bennett, Kayce 1 ; Valdivia, Ryanna 1
SF: Fox, Mikaila 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Christian, Hannah 3 ; Weeks, Maddie 2 ; Fox, Mikaila 1 ; Lee, Jana 1 ; Green, Carrie 2
SB: Christian, Hannah 1 ; Durham, Carlee 1 ; Green, Carrie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
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3
RBI
1
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4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
3b/1b
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
C/OF
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C
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RHP/INF
/ Softball
INF
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RHP
/ SoftballOF
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RHP
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INF
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