SW Mississippi News

Parker Delivers Six Strikeouts in 9-2 Loss at USM

The Alcorn State softball team closed the 2023 Golden Eagle Invitational with a 9-2 loss to Southern Miss on Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Southern Miss Softball Complex. The Lady Braves connected four five hits but saw four errors in the matchup against the Golden Eagles.

Kelsey Lockridge led Alcorn at the plate. The junior infielder from Vicksburg, Miss., saw three at-bats with two hits, and Hannah Miller made three plate appearances for one hit (her second home run of the season), one run, and two RBIs.

In the circle, Kiri Parker (1-3) threw a complete six-inning game for six strikeouts, two walks, 11 hits against, and nine runs (three earned).

Jana Lee (2-0) carried Southern Miss at the plate and in the circle. The sophomore from Albany, Ga., threw 7.0 innings for five hits against, two earned runs, and five strikeouts. She also had a 3-for-4 appearance for one run and two RBIs.

Alcorn falls to 3-7 on the season, while Southern Miss improves to 7-1.

Alcorn 2, Southern Miss. 9

B1\ The Golden Eagles got off two runs in the opening frame. Maria Smith, the leadoff hitter, connected four a double to left field and then stole third. After Brave pitcher sat down the second batter with a 3-2 swinging strikeout, Smith came home on a single to left field off the bat of Dittmer. Dittmer advanced to second on an error and scored a run on a single from Lee.  (ASU 0, USM 2)

B3\ After an uneventful second inning, Southern Miss returned in the third to add five runs to the board. Hannah Borden led off with a fly-out. Dittmer connected for her second hit. Lorna Agren touched first on an error, and Dittmer advanced to second. Lee singled, loading the bases, and a wild pitch scored Dittmer. Everyone moved. Paris Ferguson singled to bring Lee and Agren home. Caroline Worrell singled, and Worrell and Ferguson scored on an error by the left fielder.  (ASU 0, USM 7)

T4\ Alcorn broke its scoring silence at the top of the fourth. Lockridge singled through the left side to take first, and Jillian Waters entered the game to pinch run. A fielder's choice sent Waters back to the dugout but put Marsha Hunt on first base. Miller swung for her second home run of the season to clear the bases and cut USM leads to 7-2. (ASU 2, USM 7)

B4\ The Golden Eagles scored the final two runs of the contest in the bottom of the frame. Parker struck out Dittmer, swinging, and then Natalie Taylor doubled to grab second. Agren singled to bring home Taylor and then advanced to second on a throw. Lee recorded her second RBI of the game, singling to score Agren. (ASU 2, USM 9)

Original source can be found here.