Carr, Smith Hurl Gems on Day One at Black & Gold Invitational

Friday, February 10

Hattiesburg, MS

2 PM

Seton Hall University

0-1

Samford

1-0

Samford

Seton Hall

Carr, Smith Hurl Gems on Day One at Black & Gold Invitational

2/10/2023 7:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score (PDF)Game Two Box Score (PDF)

Hattiesburg, Miss. – The Seton Hall softball team had dominant pitching across day one of the Black & Gold Invitational, however came up short in both matchups. The Pirates dropped game one to Samford, 1-0, before suffering an extra innings defeat to Southern Miss, 2-1. Kelsey Carr (Ridgewood, N.Y.) and Shelby Smith (Friendswood, Texas) each had shutdown performances in the circle for the Pirates, allowing one run and striking out 18 batters combined.

Game 1: Samford 1 – Seton Hall 0
How it Happened

Smith came out of the gates strong, striking out four through her first two innings of work and allowing just one baserunner.
The Pirates got their first runner in scoring position in the fourth after a leadoff double from Carr. She was pinch run for by Miranda Arruda (Pawcatuk, Conn.), however she was eventually erased on a fielder's choice.
The Bulldogs scored the game's only run in the fifth on a two-out RBI single to left field.
Smith was able to escape a jam in the top of the seventh, inducing a line drive double play with runners at the corners to avoid the threat.

Notes and Numbers

Smith pitched all seven innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just six hits and one run.
Carr reached base twice in her first game since the 2021 season after missing all of last season due to injury.

Game 2: Southern Miss 2 – Seton Hall 1 (9 innings)
How it Happened

Much like Smith did in the circle in game one, Carr went on a strikeout barrage to begin game two as well. The junior fanned five Golden Eagles through the first two innings.
The Pirates could not cash in on a chance to score in the fifth after Andrea Perez (Corona, Calif.) legged out an infield single. She would eventually advance to third after a pair of wild pitches, but was stranded there after a groundout and lineout ended the frame.
After the Pirates went scoreless in the top of the eighth, Southern Miss had the bases loaded with just one out. Carr dug deep and induced two straight flyouts to Lauren Caye (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in left field to strand three runners on base.
Seton Hall struck first in the top of the ninth, as Erin Howard (Skillman, N.J.) singled through the right side to score Abby Wingo (Portland, Ore.) with the game's first run.
The Golden Eagles would rally for two in the bottom of the ninth to earn the walk-off victory.

Notes and Numbers

Carr pitched eight innings, allowed just two hits and notched a career-high 10 strikeouts in her first pitching appearance since May 8, 2021.
Carr's 10 strikeouts mark the first Pirate to have double digit strikeouts in a game since Smith had 11 against DePaul in her 13-inning effort on April 8, 2022.
Howard and Perez each collected their first-career base hits, and Howard's ninth inning single led to her first RBI as a Pirate.

What's Next
The Pirates will square off with Samford and Southern Miss tomorrow, with their first matchup coming against the Bulldogs at 11 a.m.