Owls Rally to Defeat Southern Miss 3-2

Sunday, May 3

Hattiesburg, Miss.

2:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

35-16-1, 16-7

Southern Miss

18-34, 3-21

Florida Atlantic

Southern Miss

5/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

May 3, 2015

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A dramatic two-run double by Laura Mann was the key hit in the Florida Atlantic University softball team's 3-2 win over Southern Miss on Sunday. The Owls scored all three of their runs in the top of the seventh inning.

USM (18-34, 3-21, C-USA) took an early lead in the bottom of the first on a single, sacrifice bunt and double to go up 1-0. The Owls threatened in both the second and third innings, but had runners thrown out at home while attempting a double steal each time. Christina Martinez appeared to tie the game on a Golden Eagle throwing error, but the home plate umpire ruled that she never touched home and called her out.

The Golden Eagles put runners on second and third with just one out in the fourth inning to chase starter Samantha Messer from the game. Kylee Hanson entered the game and was able to strike out the first batter she faced, but gave up a base hit that put USM up 2-0.

FAU loaded the bases in the fifth inning and Mann hit what initially appeared to be a grand slam, but the ball fell just short of the fence to end the frame.

Christina Martinez reached on a one out walk in the top of the seventh, followed by the third Golden Eagle error of the game, which allowed Carnesha Thompson to reach. Emily Lochten singled to center to load the bases. Melissa Martinez came to the plate and flew out to right field, scoring her sister Christina and allowing Thompson and Lochten to move up a base, setting the stage for Mann's heroics.

Down to her final strike, Mann's double to left center drove in Lochten and Thompson to put FAU up 3-2. Hanson retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh for her 15th win of the season. The Owls improve to 35-16-1 on the year and 16-7 in C-USA play. They will be the no. 2 seed for the Conference USA Tournament, which starts on Thursday, May 7 and will be hosted by FIU.

The Owls will play no. 7 seed North Texas on Thursday. Fans with the C-USA Digital Network can watch on conferenceusa.com. Live stats also will be available at conferenceusa.com or fans can follow the action at twitter.com/fauowlssoftball.