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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Nearly one week after clinching Conference USA's first softball regular season championship, No. 8 Southern Miss captured the inaugural tourney title with a 4-0 victory over DePaul in front of 980 fans at Oak Grove Optimist Park. The 57-10 Golden Eagles extended their school record-winning streak to 22 games, while DePaul drops to 34-20. The 48-team field for the NCAA Tournament, to which Conference USA does not receive an automatic bid this season, will be announced May 14 at 8:30 p.m. CDT.
The Golden Eagles did all of their scoring in the fourth inning against DePaul pitchers Vanessa Saavedra and Lindsay Chouinard. Chrystal Stevens led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on an Erin Johnson groundout and scored on a passed ball. Jen Ford then walked and moved to second when Channika Gant was hit by a pitch. Dalenah Tanner then reached base on an error by DePaul shortstop Liz Bouck, which advanced Ford to third base. Ford finally crossed the plate when Tammy Edwards was hit by a pitch.
Southern Miss senior All-American Courtney Blades added the Conference USA Tournament Most Valuable Player Award to her trophy case, allowing just one hit and striking out seven. For the tournament, she held Louisville, South Florida and DePaul scoreless while allowing just nine hits in 21 innings with 25 strikeouts. She was joined on the all-tournament team by DePaul catcher Tatum Allen, infielders Amy Berman and Jen Ford (Southern Miss), Andi Michaels and Lea Mishlan (South Florida) and Liz Bouck (DePaul), outfielders Shavaughne Desecki (DePaul), Colleen Coughlin (Louisville) and Renee Oursler (South Florida), pitcher Lindsay Chouinard (DePaul) and utility player Erin Johnson (Southern Miss).
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WP: Blades (44-5)
LP: Saavedra (10-7)
USM - Berman 1-4 2B 2 RBI