BATON ROUGE (May 22) -- Southern Miss defeated LSU, 1-0, in the Baton Rouge Regional
in Div. I Women's Softball action.
Revenge was sweet for USM pitcher Courtney Blades, as it was Lewis striking
out Blades Saturday night in the bottom of the 13th that advanced LSU to the
championship game.
The Tigers finished the season at 59-13 overall while Southern Miss (61-11)
advanced to the Women's College World Series with the win.
Lady Eagle pitcher Courtney Blades, the regional's Most Outstanding Player,
earned her 50th win of the season against six loses. She pitched nine
innings while allowing three hits while striking out 10 without a walk.
Blades, 4-1 in the regional, pitched all 44 innings in the tournament while
allowing only three runs on 22 hits. She struck out 62 batters while walking
only 12. Her ERA for the regional was a skimpy 0.47. Three of the 22 hits
went for extra bases including the first home run hit off of her in 181
innings.
LSU's Ashley Lewis (four innings) and Britni Sneed (five innings) combined
to allow only three hits while striking out six and walking four.
Sneed (27-7) entered the top of the ninth with a scoreless tie. She gave up
a leadoff double to leadoff hitter Amy Berman (2-for-4) who then advanced to
third on a sacrifice by Jennifer Collins. After back-to-back intentional
walks to No. 3 hitter Chrystal Stevens and No. 4 hitter Erin Johnson, first
baseman Jennifer Ford was hit by Sneed's 2-2 pitch to drive in the winning
run.
LSU's best chance to score on the dominant Blades came in the bottom of the
sixth inning when the Tigers put two aboard with one out on a single by
Stacey Newton and a fielder's choice by Dee Douglas that advanced Newton to
second. However, Blades struckout Hastings and Ducote couldn't leg-out a
bunt to end the inning.
All-Regional Team
Catcher -- Kenya Peters, Southern Miss
First Base -- Shaunte' Fremin, LSU
Second Base -- Stehanie Hastings, LSU
Shortstop -- Alana Addison, UL-Lafayette
Third Base -- Summar Lapeyrouse, UL-Lafayette
Outfield -- Dee Douglas, LSU
Outfield -- Linette Stuart, Northwestern State
Outfield -- Chrystal Stevens, Southern Miss
Outfield -- Stacey Newton, LSU
Pitcher -- Courtney Blades, Southern Miss
Pitcher -- Britni Sneed, LSU
Utility Player -- Ashley Lewis, LSU
Most Outstanding Player: Courtney Blades, Southern Miss
| Southern Miss |
000 |
000 |
001 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
0 |
| LSU |
000 |
000 |
000 |
-- |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Courtney Blades and Kenya Peters. Ashley Lewis,
Britni Sneed (5) and Jen Schuelke.
WP -- Blades (50-6)
LP -- Sneed (27-7)
Records -- Southern Miss 61-11, LSU 59-13
T -- 2:25
A -- 1034