Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southeastern Louisiana senior Heather Sherrill homered and drove in two runs, but the Lady Lions could not sustain an early lead and fell to Southern Miss, 6-3, in its final road game of the season in non-conference softball action Wednesday evening at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.

Sherrill and freshman Jordan Logan had two hits apiece for the Lady Lions (19-31). Southern Miss scored three runs in both the third and fourth innings to improve to 25-24-2 overall.

Samantha Davis (12-9) earned the win in the circle for USM, striking out eight in a complete-game four-hit effort. Southeastern junior Catherine Gunther (9-14) took the loss for the Lady Lions, allowing six runs in 3.2 innings of work.

The Lady Lions opened the game by taking the lead in the top of the first inning. Logan reached on an error by USM shortstop Chanell Thurman. Davis recovered to retire the next two Lady Lions, but Sherrill followed with a two-run blast over the centerfield fence. The Alexandria native's fourth home run of the season gave Southeastern a 2-0 advantage.

Gunther held USM at bay until the Golden Eagles mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. Kristin Pilgrim and Logan James reached on consecutive singles, which Ashley Razey followed with a three-run home run to put Southern Miss ahead, 3-2.

The Golden Eagles doubled their scoring output with another two-out rally. A double by Brandi Alonzo and a walk to Megan Hill put runners on first and second. Leslie Lejune cleared the bases with a two-run double and would later score on a double by James to give USM a 6-2 edge.

Freshman Katelyn Thomason would not allow another USM run in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. However, Southeastern could not take advantage of Thomason's strong work in the circle.

In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore Tamra Ladnier reached on a Thurman error with one out. Logan scored Ladnier with a RBI double down the leftfield line, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit to a triple.

Davis retired sophomore Katie Duhe to end the inning. Southeastern could not manage a significant comeback threat in the final two frames, as a leadoff walk to junior Chelsea Takacs in the top of the seventh was the team's only base runner.

Southeastern will close out the 2009 season this weekend, hosting Southland Conference foe UT Arlington for a three-game weekend series at North Oak Park. The series opens with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with a 12 p.m. contest on Sunday. Sherrill and Allyson McCubbins will be honored prior to Sunday's season finale in a special Senior Day ceremony.