MOBILE, Ala. – Erika Piancastelli's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning gave McNeese State a 2-1, come-from-behind-victory over University of South Alabama softball at Jaguar Field on Wednesday.
 
Shanice Hagler's RBI double to right center scored Tori Yanitor in the seventh inning to send the game into extra innings, after the Jags looked to have things wrapped up after scoring in the bottom of the fourth and holding the Cowgirls to only a pair of hits through six innings.
 
"It was a pitchers' game," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "Two really good pitchers were going at it. When it comes to playing good teams, it comes down to competing and executing. We had a chance to add to our lead in the fifth inning, but we didn't do it.
 
"In the inning that they scored, we had some batters 0-2, and they were able to do something with the ball," Clark added. "We've got to bounce back from this; it was a tough loss. It was a game that we had the opportunities to win, but we didn't get it done, so we have to bounce back, and get ready for another good team this weekend."
 
USA hosts Georgia State for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series on Saturday and Sunday. Links to live stats, video and ticket information can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided for each USA contest via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
 
South Alabama (18-11, 6-2 SBC) went ahead, 1-0, on Haleigh Lane's RBI single off the glove of McNeese State third baseman Taylor Edwards, which plated Haleigh Lowe, after the latter led off the inning with a base hit. Amanda Minahan's sacrifice bunt moved Lowe to second, and Kristian Foster's single moved Lowe to third.
 
An inning later, Emily Messer drew a leadoff walk, and Kaleigh Todd got on with a base hit up the middle, but three straight outs deterred the hosts' chance to add to their lead.
 
Yanitor led off the top of the seventh with a double to right center, before Hagler supplied the game-tying RBI for McNeese State (24-6, 9-0 Southland).
 
The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Jags. USA left eight runners on base in the contest. South Alabama falls to 7-6 at home this season.
 
Lowe finished the night 2-for-4, having reached safely for the 15^th game in a row. Lane was 1-for-3 with the RBI. Kaleigh Todd extended her on-base streak to 16 games and her hitting streak to 11 games. Dayla Gulledge recorded the first multiple-hit game of her career after going 2-for-3.
 
Brown (10-7) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. McNeese State's score in the seventh inning ended a shutout streak of 36 2/3 innings for the Mobile, Ala., native.
 
Cowgirl reliever Jamie Allred was credited with the win in two shutout innings. Starter Emily Vincent went six innings and scattered eight Jaguar hits, allowing one run (earned) with five strikeouts and a walk.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).