HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss softball (23-13, Sun Belt 4-2) defeated Nicholls (19-13, Southland 7-2) 5-4 Wednesday evening in a closely contested game. The Golden Eagles secured the win behind strong pitching from Madilyn Graham and clutch hitting from Hannah Christian, who extended her hitting streak to five games.
Graham, who improved to 8-4 on the season, started the game with a strikeout and allowed only one run in the second inning. Nicholls’s Gabby Higbee reached on an error, and Madison Johnson was driven in from a bases-loaded walk. Graham retired the next three batters in order in the third inning, helping keep the game tied.
Christian put the Golden Eagles ahead with her third home run of the season, a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the third. Nicholls responded in the fourth with a homer from Kayleigh Lugowski. Southern Miss then broke the game open in the fifth inning, scoring four runs on key hits and errors, including a two-run single from Jolie Hays.
The Colonels attempted a comeback in the seventh, with Madison Moak launching a two-run homer to right center. However, Kayla Giardina came in to close out the game, recording a groundout to secure her second save of the season. Giardina retired the final batter after a two-out single to end the game.
The win marks Southern Miss’s best start under head coach Natalie Poole, tying last season’s 23-win mark with 20 regular-season games remaining. Christian led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Green and Glasgow contributed with one stolen base each. Graham pitched well, and Giardina’s save helped preserve the victory.
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