Southern Miss Softball Heads to Florida for Spring Games Tournament

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss Softball (4-2) is headed to Leesburg, Florida, for the Spring Games tournament. The Golden Eagles will compete against Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman, Loyola Chicago, and Saint John’s over the weekend, according to team officials.

Southern Miss opens the tournament Friday at 3 p.m. EST against Loyola Chicago. The game will be followed by a matchup with Bethune-Cookman at 5:30 p.m. EST. On Saturday, the team faces Saint John’s at 1 p.m. and Alabama State at 3:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles close the event Sunday with a rematch against Saint John’s at 10 a.m., officials said.

Southern Miss leads the nation in sacrifice hits with eight and is tied for 14th in walks drawn with 29, according to team statistics. The team is also tied for first nationally with one batter hit-by-pitch. Nealy McManus leads the Sun Belt Conference and ranks 30th in the nation with nine RBIs. McManus and Abbi Troquille are tied for third nationally with two sacrifice flies each.

Pitcher Kayla Giardina is tied for 13th in the nation with one shutout and ranks 17th with two wins. She also has a 1.00 WHIP, placing her in the top 100 nationally, officials added.

History between the teams shows that Southern Miss and Loyola Chicago will meet for the first time. The Golden Eagles and Bethune-Cookman last played in 1999, with Southern Miss winning 8-0. The matchup with Saint John’s will also be their first meeting.

Southern Miss has a 8-0 record against Alabama State, dating back to 2009, with each victory by five or more runs, according to team records. For updates, fans can follow the team on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @SouthernMissSB.

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