Box score
HATTIESBURG, Miss.– Southern Miss scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to come from behind and defeat the Jags, 5-4, Wednesday night in Hattiesburg, Miss.
USM’s Jill Mathis started the rally in the bottom of the seventh when she homered over the center field wall. Brittany Lilly drew a walk, then Christina Roosemalen doubled to right, advancing Lilly to third. Alexis Hurley came into pinch hit for Mackenzie Sher and loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch.
Druhan left the game in the top of the seventh after holding the Golden Eagles to one hit through the first four innings. With the bases loaded and no outs, USA’s freshman pitcher Hannah Campbell came in for relief. The Golden Eagles cut the lead to, 4-2, when Channel Thurman was hit by a pitch to push a run across. The next batter, Taylor Brown hit an RBI-single to drive in Kacie Eich. With one out, Courtney Hill drove in the game-tying run when she hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, advancing Thurman and Brown. USM’s Thurman scored the game-winning run when she advanced home on a pass ball.
“We let one get away from us tonight,” Jaguar head coach Becky Clark said. “We left runners in scoring position and didn’t put them away when we should have. Morgan pitched a great game but things just didn’t work out for us tonight.”
USA (4-2) broke the scoreless tie in top of the fourth when Carolina Mendoza hit an RBI-single to drive in second baseman Julie Moss, who singled to left earlier in the inning.
The Jags went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth on junior Haley Hopkin’s RBI-double to left that scored Britany Campbell, who doubled to left to start the inning. Two batters later, Brittany Fowler hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Hopkins giving the Jags a 3-0 lead.
Meghan Collins tacked on a run in the sixth when she singled and then advanced all the way to third on an error. Jenny Stevens drew a walk and stole second, Collins scored on the throw.
Campbell (1-2) took the loss for the Jaguars as she pitched .2 innings, and Morgan Druhan struck out eight batters in six innings of work. USA outhit the Southern Miss 11-5 with Katy Neal and Moss leading the offense. Moss went 3-for- 3 at the plate scoring one run, and Katy Neal went 2-for-2.
Kelly Smith (1-0) was credited with the win after giving up three hits and one run.
USA will return to action this weekend at the South Alabama Invitational when it takes on Ohio State in its home opener at 7 p.m.
Game Notes: Haley Hopkins drove in her team-leading 10th RBI of the season. Brittany Campbell has a team-leading two doubles.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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