HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss softball concluded its opening weekend with a 4-1 record at the Black and Gold Challenge, after dropping a game to Louisiana Tech in extra innings and defeating Southeast Missouri State in the second matchup Sunday.
In the first game, Louisiana Tech scored two runs in the first inning and added five in the eighth to secure a 8-3 victory over Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles responded with late-game offense, but their rally fell short, according to the team.
Southern Miss rebounded in the second game, edging Southeast Missouri State 5-2. The Golden Eagles scored five runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Katalina Ybarra and a two-RBI triple from Nealy McManus. Pitcher Madilyn Graham, making her collegiate debut, earned her first win in the game.
Head coach Natalie Poole praised her team’s effort, noting the weekend’s overall success. “It feels good to finish 4-1 and the only loss was in extra innings,” she said. “We had some good performances and learned a lot about ourselves as a team. We look forward to week two.”
Southern Miss will face Louisiana Tech three more times before the Bulldogs join the Sun Belt Conference next season. The Golden Eagles will next play at Mississippi State on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Notable players included Katalina Ybarra, who made her debut, and Hannah Christian, who extended her hitting streak to five games. Graham also made her college debut and recorded her first win.
