HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss softball (30-20, 11-7 Sun Belt) hosts South Alabama (27-21, 11-7 Sun Belt) for the final home series of the season at the Southern Miss Softball Complex from April 24-26, according to school officials.
The series will be streamed on ESPN+ and will feature play-by-play coverage from Clay Sweet. Live scoring is available through Stat Broadcast. Southern Miss comes into the series after a midweek game against Ole Miss, during which Nealy McManus hit her first career home run, the school said.
The Golden Eagles are ranked in the top 20 nationally in fielding percentage at .976 and are 39th in shutouts with seven. Historically, Southern Miss holds a 4-9-1 record at home against South Alabama, with the last meeting in 2025 resulting in a series split in Mobile, Alabama, according to school records.
Several players are ranked nationally in various categories. Abbi Troquille is tied for second in the country with 21 hit-by-pitches. Kayla Giardina ranks 16th in walks allowed per seven innings at 1.20. Kayce Bennett has caught 12 runners stealing, placing her 18th nationally. McManus is 21st with 111 assists, and Hannah Christian ranks 26th with 66 hits.
Southern Miss ranks third nationally in sacrifice flies at 26, 12th in hit-by-pitches with 45, and is among the top 30 in triples with 14. The team leads the Sun Belt in triples, hit-by-pitches, sacrifice flies, and fielding percentage, while allowing only three triples this season.
South Alabama continues its road trip after losing a series 2-1 to Marshall, scoring eight runs over the weekend. The Jaguars are tied for third in the Sun Belt with Southern Miss and Texas State. Virginia Mambelli leads the team offensively with a .347 batting average, six home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .633 slugging percentage. In the pitching circle, Ryley Harrison boasts a 2.57 ERA, with 150 strikeouts over 161 innings pitched, the school said.
Historically, South Alabama leads the series 21-9-1, with the last meeting resulting in a Southern Miss series win in 2025. The Golden Eagles are 4-9-1 at home against the Jaguars, including a rainout in 2009, according to school records.
For updates on Southern Miss softball, follow the team on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram at @SouthernMissSB.
