LAFAYETTE, LA. – The Coastal Carolina softball team advanced to the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Softball Championship Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday in Lafayette, La., after freshman Delaney Keith hammered a walk-off home run in extra innings to down the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 4-2 in the comeback win.
 
It was a battle of the pitchers in the opening three innings, with Raelee Brabham throwing two consecutive 1-2-3 innings while giving up one hit. USM's Morgan Leinstock recorded a three-up, three-down inning of her own to hold the score at 0-0.
 
Southern Miss was first to strike after back-to-back singles kicked off the top of the fourth inning. USM's Scout Jennings pushed the first run across the plate when she drilled an RBI single to left field to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
 
The Chants looked to level the score in the bottom of the fourth inning after a walk, a wild pitch, and a groundout advanced Keith to third base, but the Golden Eagles held strong to keep the score at 1-0.
 
CCU was given a lifeline in the bottom of the sixth inning after singles from Keith and Iyanla De Jesus put runners on first and third base. With two outs on the board, Coastal tied up the game on a fielder's choice to make the score 1-1 heading into the seventh inning.
 
After three scoreless innings to see the game go into extras, the Golden Eagles regained the lead in the top of the 10th inning when Maria Smith slotted an RBI single up the middle to push USM in front at 2-1.
 
The Chants were not ready to end their season, as in the bottom of the 10th inning Maddy Jennings and freshman Libby Pippin smashed back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second base to give CCU a fighting chance. Keith then rose to the occasion and belted a three-run walk-off home run over the right-field wall to secure the comeback 4-2 win and send CCU to the quarterfinals.
 
Nicolette Picone advanced to 11-4 on the season with the win, recording a career-high nine strikeouts while giving up just one run in 6.0 innings of work.
 
"I am proud of the resilience our team showed today on the field," stated head coach Kelley Green. "I love the way our players responded to challenges all game long."
 
The Chanticleers will be back in action tomorrow to take on the No. 2-seeded Marshall in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament.
 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (Twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.