Southern Miss Softball to Face Troy in Weekend Sun Belt Series
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss softball is traveling to Troy, Alabama, for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series from March 27 to 29. The opening game is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available, according to the university.
The Golden Eagles, with a 23-13 overall record and a 4-2 mark in conference play, have started Sun Belt action with back-to-back series wins. It is their best conference start since 2014 and ties last season’s total of 23 wins. Southern Miss has hit 11 home runs in the last 12 games, led by Sun Belt Player of the Week Hannah Christian and redshirt sophomore Kayce Bennett, each with three homers.
Southern Miss trails Troy 20-8 in the all-time series, though it secured its first series win against the Trojans last season in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles are 2-5 when playing in Troy, with their most recent road victory coming in 2024, a 10-1 win that prevented a sweep.
Several players rank nationally in various categories. Abbi Troquille is tied for second in the nation with 16 hit-by-pitches, while Christian is tied for fourth with 55 hits. Nealy McManus ranks in the top 10 nationally with 86 assists, and Bennett is among the top 30 in caught stealing with eight. Pitcher Kayla Giardina is also ranked in multiple categories, including seventh in complete games with seven and 10 wins overall.
The Trojans began conference play with a sweep by South Alabama but bounced back with a sweep of Georgia State. They recently defeated Kennesaw State 12-6 in a midweek game, highlighted by a five-run seventh inning. Makaley Boswell leads Troy offensively with a .840 slugging percentage, 32 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Abby Lovell is Troy’s top pitcher, posting a 2.23 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 2023.
Historically, Troy has the edge in the series, leading 20-8. Last season, Southern Miss earned its first series victory over Troy, 2-1, at home. The Golden Eagles are 2-5 in Troy overall, with a 4-6 record in the last 10 matchups.
Fans can follow the series for updates on Southern Miss’s official social media channels, including Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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