To say the 2023 season was difficult for the Southern Miss softball program might be an understatement.
Head coach Natalie Poole’s late hiring left her with no time to add to the then 17-person roster.
Despite the lack of numbers, Poole managed to turn in an admirable coaching effort. The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 22-24 mark, but managed to advance to its first conference tournament appearance since 2019 and was an inning away from picking the program’s first postseason win since 2016.
“I learned a lot from this first year,” Poole said. “You always dream of more and to do better. In essence, there are some things that we walked away was the start of something.
“I definitely think that come tournament time we can win. I believe we are competitive enough to win. Can we win a game in the conference tournament? Yes, we can. I think we are better built for that this year.”
ROSTER TURNOVER
The Golden Eagles bring back just 10 players from last season, three of whom are seniors, but they have added 14 players in the offseason.
However, 12 of those players are in their first year of playing Division I softball. To break it down, the Golden Eagles signed eight junior college players and brought in four freshmen, and two are from the transfer portal.
Southern Miss returns six mainstay starters, which includes the team’s top three hitters from last season.
Jana Lee, who is also the returning member of the pitching staff, held a team-best .350 batting average, drove in 23 runs and hit five homers. Notably, if Lee is not pitching, she’ll be the team’s designated player.
Catcher Hannah Borden also returns after posting a .324 average, which included her belting 11 doubles and 11 home runs, along with 28 RBI. Natalie Taylor, who will start in right field, held a .242 average and hit seven homers last season.
“I think we’ll have more consistency throughout our lineup,” Poole said. “I think that we are going to have a deeper lineup, so we’re going to be a little tough to pitch to.
Sophomore Neely McManus is also a returner but will move from third base to shortstop.
“She’s got the arm,” Poole said. “She has an overhand velo that’s close to 68 mph. She can move well and plays the position well.”
Three-year starter Maria Smith will hold down left field, while sophomore Kinsley Gordon, who started 25 games in the infield last year, will now start in center. The main reason for the position changes is that because of the lack of depth in last year’s roster, Poole had to start players in positions that needed to be filled rather than what catered best for the players themselves.
“Now we can find where people truly belong,” said Poole of the position changes. “We knew that they were going to be better at another place last year. But instead, they kind of stuck in and just kind of had to sit in that space and do what they needed to do where we needed them because of not having a lot of depth.”
KEY ADDITIONS
First base is a battle between Lauren Lindsey and Kayla Agner, both of whom are junior college transfers. Lindsey is a Jones College alum where last season, she posted a .415 average, hit 19 home runs, and posted 63 RBI to help the Lady Bobcats reach the national championship. Agner is a product of Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, which saw her hold a .409 average, hit 14 homers and drive in 57 runs.
At second base is Maddie Weeks, who was one of the most notable signees for the Golden Eagles. Weeks led Copiah-Lincoln to a national title where she held a .427 average, posted 66 RBI and hit 12 home runs.
Mikaila Fox is another new face for the infield, as she’ll hold down third base. Fox is a transfer from Virginia but a native of Ocean Springs. Fox started 35 games for Virginia, but two separate injuries kept her from seeing the field in 2022 and 2023. Fox will also be the team’s backup catcher, which, if that occurs, then either Agner or Butler CC transfer Ryanna Valdivia would fill the position.
“She gets to return closer to home, but no matter what, she’s a leader vocally,” Poole said. “She has the type of presence that we need. She has a pretty clear understanding of what needs to be done. She has just kind of stepped up. She was probably our most consistent hitter in the fall.”
NEW PITCHING STAFF
Southern Miss had just three pitchers for all of last season, but Poole has brought in four new faces, along with Lee returning.
The makeup of the four newcomers is broken down into two junior college transfers, a transfer portal addition, and a true freshman. Last season, Lee held a 5.12 ERA in 54.2 innings but struck out 48 and walked just 27. Notably, Lee’s fastball has topped out at 66 mph throughout the fall.
Junior college transfers Holly Craft and Loganne Stepp will both be starters for the Golden Eagles. Stepp, who started her career at San Diego State, experienced Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in the offseason but will still be a critical piece for the staff by the start of the season.
“(Stepp) has a mix of all pitches,” Poole said. “She’s throwing all pitches, and she’s got a really deceptive changeup.”
Craft, another Jones College alum, posted an 18-2 record with a 2.19 ERA last season while striking out 160 in 137.2 innings.
“She’s across and up,” Poole said. “She throws the curve, screwball, rise ball and changeup. She does move the ball really well. She spins the ball really well and knows how to be successful.”
True freshman Brookynn White is also expected to see time as a starter, while St. Francis transfer Marissa Frederick will mainly see action as a reliever. Unlike last year, due to the lack of depth, Poole hopes to establish a pitching rotation by the start of conference play.
“We’ll manage kind of game by game,” Poole said. “We’ll try to partner some people that we think could be successful.”
Southern Miss will open the season on Feb. 9 in the River City Leadoff tournament in Jacksonville, Fla. The Golden Eagles will open with a doubleheader against Fordham and then North Florida, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
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