SOUTHERN ADVANCES TO SEMIFINALS
4/29/2005

Itta Bena, MS  -- The Southern University softball team advanced to the Southwestern Athletic Conference softball tournament semifinal round by defeating the Pantherettes of Prairie View A&M University 11-4.

            “We came to the tournament with our focus of taking it one game at a time,” said Nancy Marshall SU head coach.  “Even when they hit their homerun and tied the score at three.  They knew they would have to come back and play tough defense.”

            Southern (30-10, 21-3 SWAC) jump on the board first when junior Jayme Roberts hit a shot over the left field fence to score three runs and take 3-0 lead.  Prairie View answered back with a homerun of their own by Kimberly Fernandez, who hit her three-run shot over the left field fence. With a pitching change looming SU broke out the gates with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  PV had to use three pitchers to finally get three outs on the Blue and Gold.  The Pantherettes picked up another run in the top of the fifth while the Lady Jaguars added top their lead with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning.  With all the scoring done for the game SU claim victory with a 11-4 win and moves on to play tournament host Mississippi Valley State University.

            “We’re a different team from when we played them earlier this season,” said Marshall.  “We will still have the same focus we have, one game at a time.”

            This game will be a repeat of the 2004 SWAC softball tournament championship where Valley claimed victory 3-2. Earlier this season Southern defeated Mississippi Valley 6-4 in the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions softball tournament.

 

 

-GEAUX JAGS-