April 16, 2011
Box Score
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The UTEP Softball team fell to 16-28 and 1-13 in the league play on the season after losing both games to Southern Miss on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Miners lost the first game, 10-0, and 11-10 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th inning.
The Golden Eagles (14-27, 2-12) got their scoring started early with a five-run first inning. Southern Miss scored their five runs on three hits off starter Joanna Krienitz (2-4) who pitched 2.1 innings. Krienitz finished her outing allowing seven runs on five hits, walking three and striking out two batters. She gave way to Courtney Auger who gave up three runs, two of them earned, in 1.2 innings of work. Auger also walked three and struck out two on the day.
Beth Dietrich was in the circle for the Golden Eagles and pitched a complete game shutout in five innings. She improved to 7-13 on the season after allowing only six hits, walking none and striking out four Miners.
In the second game of the doubleheader the Miners and Golden Eagles battled back and forth throughout the entire game. The Miners started off strong scoring six runs in the top of the second.
Kia Moore scored the first run of the day for the Miners after scoring on an error by the Golden Eagles’ catcher, Alexis Hurley. Courtney Ware scored on a wild pitch for the second run of the inning. Becky Smith and Kayla Black each drove in a run in the inning. They had a total of six hits in the second inning.
Southern Miss answered back in the bottom of the second. They scored seven runs on five hits all of UTEP starter Megan Atchison.
Atchison handed the ball over to Krienitz after going only 1.1 innings. Krienitz went the distance in relief pitching 8.1 innings giving up four runs and receiving her second loss of the day.
The Miners came back to tie in the top of the third after Ware scored on error by the center fielder Leslie LeJune. Southern Miss answered back again in the bottom of the inning taking an 8-7 lead.
UTEP came back to tie once more in the sixth inning forcing extra innings.
Smith drove in her second run of the day in the top of the 11th inning giving the Miners a 9-8 lead. Crystal Carrion scored another run in the inning on the fourth error of the game by Southern Miss.
Krienitz pitched six scoreless innings until giving up the final three runs of the day to the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the 11th frame. The final run came off of a sacrifice fly by Britney Dinelt who tallied five RBIs in the contest.
The Golden Eagles and Miners will return to action for the final game of the series on Sunday April 17.
