HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss’s softball team went 1-1 in Saturday’s doubleheader at The Spring Games, held at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex. The Golden Eagles fell to St. John’s, 4-0, before beating Alabama State, 10-1, in five innings.
In the first game, Southern Miss managed six hits but failed to score, leaving nine runners on base. Natalie Herrington started on the mound and got through the first inning with a strikeout and two groundouts. The Golden Eagles threatened in the second, with Nealy McManus singling and Jolie Hays drawing a walk, but St. John’s pitcher Ana Serafinko escaped the jam with two strikeouts and a groundout.
St. John’s took the lead in the third inning with a triple from Jess Bianco, who later scored on an RBI single. The Red Storm added an RBI single in the sixth, extending their lead. Southern Miss attempted a rally in the seventh with two singles but could not push across a run. The loss marked the first time in program history that Southern Miss and St. John’s softball teams competed against each other, according to the school.
The second game saw the Golden Eagles dominate Alabama State, 10-1, in five innings. Southern Miss opened with a flurry, with Hannah Christian drawing a walk, stealing second, and later scoring on a Kayce Bennett single. Bennett and Julia Glasgow advanced on a passed ball, while Abbi Troquille added an RBI single to extend the lead.
Southern Miss continued its offensive onslaught with a bases-clearing triple from Christian and another triple from Maddison Johnson. The team’s pitching held Alabama State hitless through the third inning. BrookLynn White finished the game, with the Hornets breaking their hitless streak in the fourth, but the Golden Eagles maintained control and secured their largest margin of victory over Alabama State since 2009.
Notably, the game marked the first time in program history that Southern Miss and St. John’s softball teams faced each other. Additionally, White earned her first win of the season. The win over Alabama State ties the program record for largest victory margin against the Hornets.
Southern Miss (6-4) returns to action Sunday against Saint John’s at 9 a.m. CT. Follow the team for updates on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
