It’s been a tall order for Southern Miss to juggle its season with just three pitchers on its roster, which was evident in the Golden Eagles’ 9-1 run-rule loss to in-state rival Ole Miss.
Southern Miss’ pitchers combined to allow nine hits and walked six batters in the five-inning game that featured a crowd of 1,505, the third largest crowd in program history.
“We missed some pitches,” Southern Miss coach Natalie Poole. “We left some pitches up. It was a little too easy for them to capitalize on them. Maybe it was some overthinking on some pitches and trying to do too much in some instances. Defensively, I thought we could have played a little sharper instead of allowing things to get away from us.
“Their leadoff (hitter) we walked three times…It sets you back. Those kinds of things always find their way to be (costly). I really think we struggled at times to find the zone, and I think a couple of times we left some pitches a little too pretty.”
In the first inning, Leinstock struggled to locate the strike zone as she walked two batters, which led to a run scoring on a fielding error. Ole Miss then added two more runs in the second inning after hitting a 2-run RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Leinstock was then pulled in third after giving up another RBI double. Relief pitcher Jana Lee got out of the inning with a double play. Southern Miss then got a run back after Lee drove in a run with a single to narrow the score to 3-1. The Golden Eagles had an opportunity to add more runs, but instead, USM left the bases loaded. USM mustered just four hits while the lineup struck out eight times.
“We were close to opening things up,” Poole said. It would have been nice for us to do that because we were finding our way to the plate, and then we couldn’t push and open it up. If we stay after that and keep working on it, it will fall our way. In those instances, the pressure is on…we have to see something there.”
Ole Miss (14-11) then broke the game open with five runs in the fourth inning to build the eight-run lead.
Southern Miss (15-6) opens conference play this weekend as the Golden Eagles host Louisiana.
“I expect a tough series,” Poole said. “UL is a tough team. They are right at the edge of the top 25. They have played some really good opponents. They are going to be similar in a lot of ways to Ole Miss."
Friday’s first pitch is tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. However, the weather forecast could force a Saturday doubleheader.
“Tomorrow morning, I will make a decision about Friday’s game,” Poole said. “We are leaning in the direction of a doubleheader on Saturday and a single on Sunday.”
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