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University of Houston
Southern Miss*#
Cougars Club Southern Miss In League Opener
3/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 5, 2003
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Behind the veteran pitching of Jamie Falco and Jenny Johnson, the University of Houston began Conference USA play with a doubleheader sweep of Southern Miss here at the Golden Eagle Softball Complex. The Cougars rallied for a 6-3 win in the first game, and then UH pounded Southern Miss in the second game, 9-1.
Houston improves to 12-10 on the year and 2-0 in C-USA play, while USM falls to 7-11 and 0-2.
Lindsay Durham picked an opportune time to connect on her first home run of the year, drilling a two-run shot in the top of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie, propelling the Cougars to the crucial league-opening win. Michelle Keith began the inning with a single deep in the hole at shortstop and subsequently moved to second on a force out by pinch hitter Candis Turnbo. Durham then deposited her first round-tripper of the season over the left field fence on a 3-1 count.
The Cougars struck first in the top half of the opening frame. After one out Kim Nesloney singled sharply up the middle, and then Jeanie Davis fisted a single into leftfield. With two outs Arelis Ferreris coaxed a walk to load the bases before Jenilee Skender ripped a single to left to score both Nesloney and Davis.
A two-out rally in the top of fifth netted UH another run. Davis and Kristen Glowacz had back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. The next batter, Ferreris, hit a sharp grounder that USM second baseman Ashley Davis mishandled for an error, allowing Davis to score. Skender lined out to the pitcher, Jessica Holaway, to end the threat.
Houston scratched out an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Davis, who was 3-3 in game one, reached base for the fourth time, walking on full count. Glowacz attempted to sacrifice her over, but USM third baseman Ashley Brenan threw wildly to second in her attempt to get Davis. Davis was slightly injured on the play and was replaced temporarily by Jenny Baker. Ferreris dropped a beautiful bunt for a base hit to load the bases, and Skender hit the first pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Baker with UH's sixth run.
Falco improved to a team-best 6-3 with the win, pitching seven innings and allowing three turns on seven hits.
In game two Southern Miss jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but the Cougars countered quickly with two in the next frame. With one out Skender walked and Brandi Clark ran for her. Turnbo lined a single to left field, and then Keith moved both runners up on a force out. Again, Southern Miss's defense let them down, as Ashley Davis muffed Durham's scorcher and both Clark and Turnbo scored.
The Cougars blew the game open en route to the 8-run win. UH scored two runs in the third, three in the fourth and then iced the game with two more in the sixth. A wild pitch and a Turnbo single scored the two runs in the third, RBIs from both Nesloney and Glowacz and then another wild pitch and a Ferreris RBI brought in the final two runs.
Johnson completely shut down the potent Golden Eagle offense, holding Southern Miss to just an unearned run on two hits over six innings. She improves to 3-4 on the season.
The Cougars will look for the sweep tomorrow when they face the Golden Eagles at 1 pm.
--www.Uhcougars.com-
