Game 6: at No. 5/4 Alabama Game Notes.pdf

GAME: 6 | AT ALABAMA
Feb. 15, 2017 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Rhoads Stadium

RV / -- South Alabama (5-0, 0-0 SBC)
5 / 4  Alabama (5-0, 0-0 SEC)

Television: SEC Network+
    Talent: Eli Gold (PxP) and Danae Hays (Analyst)
Radio: 99.5 FM The Jag     
    Talent: J.T. Crabtree
Live Stats: www.USAJaguars.com
Live Stream: ESPN3.com
Twitter: @USAJagsSoftball

South Alabama
Batting Avg.: .311
Runs: 26
Hits: 38
Home Runs: 4    
Stolen Bases: 6-7
ERA: 0.21
Strikeouts: 34

Alabama
Batting Avg.: .403
Runs: 43
Hits: 56
Home Runs: 8
Stolen Bases: 15-18
ERA: 0.85
Strikeouts: 52

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS    
– South Alabama (5-0) enters the midweek contest versus the Crimson Tide after sweeping through the Sand Dollar Classic this past weekend.  With their solid start to the season, USA received five votes on Tuesday in the USAToday/National FastPitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll – the first time since week 8 of last season that the Jags have received votes.
– The Jaguars averaged 5.2 runs per contests in its first five outings of the season and allowed just four runs total with only one of those earned.  
– Offensively, USA is hitting .311 and of its 38 hits, 13 were for extra bases.  South leads the Sun Belt in home runs with four home runs and is second in batting average, slugging percentage (.492), doubles (8) and stolen bases.
– In the circle, South Alabama has a team earned run average of 0.21, which is tops in the conference, while allowing just 18 hits and striking out 34 – both of which also lead the Sun Belt entering Wednesday night's game.  Opponents are batting just .151 against the Jaguar staff on the young season.
– Kaleigh Todd (.429) and Kristian Foster (.417) currently rank tied for seventh and ninth, respectively in the SBC in batting average.  
– Todd – a preseason all-league player and an honorable mention selection by FastPitch News – also leads the conference in runs scored and stolen bases.  She is 5-for-6 in the latter category this season and had a career-high three swipes against Houston Baptist on Saturday.
– Savanna Mayo (.375), Amanda Minahan (.357), Haleigh Lane (.357) and MC Nichols (.333) are also of to solid starts offensively this season as each are batting over .300.
– Minahan has supplied the power early on for the Jags as she has two home runs and has driven in nine – both team highs.  The senior center fielder had two-run home runs in back-to-back games (Central Arkansas and HBU) over the weekend.
– On Sunday, Savanna Mayo registered a walk-off solo shot in a 8-0, five inning game against 2016 NCAA Regional participant Alabama State.  Mayo was 2-for-2 at the plate against the Hornets and also had a RBI-double in the contest.
– Abby Krzywiecki has also gone yard this season for the Jaguars and she is tied with Mayo for second on the club with four RBI.
– USA has had an outstanding 1-2 punch in the circle thus far this season.  Devin Brown (2-0) has recorded complete-game shutouts in her first two starts of the season.  In 15.2 innings of work, Brown has allowed just six hits, one walk and struck out 25, while holding a 0.00 ERA.
– Fellow right-hander Destin Vicknair has been just as good in the circle as she is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA.  Vicknair also has gone the distance twice for the Jags and is coming off a shutout of ASU on Sunday.  In 17.1 innings of work, the Reserve, La., native has scattered 12 hits and allowed just one earned run to go along with her nine strikeouts.
– Brown, Vicknair, Todd, Foster and Minahan were all named to the Sand Dollar Classic all-tournament squad for their performances.
– The Jaguars were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll.

SCOUTING THE CRIMSON TIDE    
– Alabama also enters Wednesday's action undefeated on the season as the Crimson Tide went 5-0 over the weekend at the Kickin' Chicken Classic hosted by first-year Sun Belt member Coastal Carolina.
– At the tourney, Bama out-scored its opponents 43-5 and picked up wins over Towson (2), Coastal (2) and Youngstown State.
– With the 5-0 start, the Tide jumped two spots in the in this week's USAToday/NFCA Top 25 Poll, moving to fifth after being ranked seventh in both preseason polls.  ed Bama also moved up to No. 4 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll this week.
– As a team, Alabama out-hit its five opponents 56-11 and is now hitting .403.  Like the Jags, UA had 13 extra-base hits, including eight home runs.
– Bailey Hemphill leads the team in the latter category with three on the season and has a slugging percentage of 1.214.  Hemphill is one of six batters batting .500 or better and she is second on the club with nine RBI.
–  Peyton Grantham leads the team in RBI with 10 and she is also hitting .500.  Merris Schroder was 6-for-11 at the plate on the weekend and she is hitting .545.  
– Alabama was also dangerous on the base paths as it had 15 steals in those five games.
– Like South Alabama, Alabama was also outstanding in the circle as Alexis Osorio and Sydney Littlejohn both went 2-0 and didn't allow a run.  Osorio also did not allow a hit or a walk in her two appearances and struck out 25, including a school-record 19 of the 21 batters she faced in a 6-0 win over Coastal Carolina on Friday.
– Littlejohn also had 18 strikeouts in her 11.0 innings of work allowed just four hits and three walks.

THE SERIES    
– The meeting between South Alabama and Alabama will mark the 13th in the all-time series between the two clubs.
– The Crimson Tide holds a 12-0 advantage in the all-time series and has taken all nine of the previous meetings in Tuscaloosa.
– UA and USA have faced each other three times in the NCAA postseason.
– Each of the last four meetings have been decided by three runs or less, including a 4-2 decision last season in Tuscaloosa.

LAST TIME THEY MET    
– Tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth, fourth-ranked Alabama took advantage of a South Alabama throwing error that extended the inning and allowed the Crimson Tide to plate a pair of runs.
– UA placed a pair of runners on to begin the inning and moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt.  Jaguar reliever Destin Vicknair fanned Merris Schroder for out number two of the inning.
– Vicknair and USA would have gotten out of the inning if not for a throw high of first by USA catcher Stephanie Pilkington on Peyton Grantham's tap three feet in front of the plate.  Both Reagan Dykes and Marisa Runyon scored on the play to put Alabama ahead, 4-2.
– Alexis Osorio came on with one away in the top of the fifth and allowed just two hits for her fifth save of the year.  The Tide reliever struck out seven of South Alabama's final nine batters en route to earning the save.
– Jag third baseman Emily Messer improved her on-base streak to a school-record-tying 26 consecutive games after recording two of USA's five hits in the contest.  The multi-hit game was her team-leading 19th on the season.
– Dayla Gulledge recorded her first career home run  in the loss.
– Leona Lafaele posted a double and a homer of her own and both of Alabama's RBI.

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).

-- USA --