MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama snapped a 14-game skid against ranked opponents Wednesday afternoon with a 3-1 victory over No. 7 Florida State at Jaguar Field. The Seminoles though bounced back scoring 14 runs on 13 hits to earn the doubleheader split with a 14-1 win in game two.
South Alabama (6-5) scored two runs in the third in the opener on Kaleigh Todd's two-run single and added an insurance run an inning later on Abby Krzywiecki's solo shot to left center before allowing a run in the seventh. FSU used a seven-run second and a four-run third to break open a one-run game and pick up the final game of the night.
UP NEXT
-South Alabama will now make its second trip of the season to South Florida as the Jags are scheduled to compete at the Diamond 9 Citrus I Classic in Kissimmee, Fla., at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. South will open up with No. 22/22 Minnesota (Fri, 4:30 p.m.), and then face RV/RV Louisville (2 p.m.) and T24/RV South Carolina (4:30 p.m.) on Sat., and Bradley on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. All listed times are Central.
Photo Gallery
Date: 2/21
Place: Jaguar Field (Mobile, Ala.)
GAME ONE
Final Score: South Alabama 3, Florida State 1
Records: South Alabama (6-4), No. 9/7 Florida State (8-3)
Game 1 Box Score (PDF)
SCORING PLAYS
-3 Inn. — USA, 2-0 —Todd single to center (2 RBI), scoring Taylor Stevens (pinch runner) and Megan Harris
-4 Inn. — USA, 3-0 —Krzywiecki home run to left center (RBI)
-7 Inn. — FSU, 3-1 — Jessica Warren infield single (RBI), scoring Deja Busch (pinch runner) (unearned)
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
-In the top of the seventh with one out and the bases loaded, the Seminoles looked as if they were going score a pair of runs, when Warren's chopper bounced off the top of Savanna Mayo's glove at third, however FSU was only able to score one run on the play as Kristian Foster was backing Mayo up on the play. The Jags were able to get Morgan Klaevemann in a run-down for the second out of the inning. Devin Brown (4-2) then got Sydney Sherrill looking to end the game.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
-Brown recorded her fifth complete game of the season and the 57 of her career. In her seven innings of work, Brown allowed just four hits and five walks, while striking out nine.
-Todd was 1-for-3 at the plate and drove in two of the Jaguars' three runs.
-Krzywiecki also had a hit which was a solo home run.
-Lyric Cabral was recorded her second multi-hit outing of the season, finishing 2-for-3 on the night.
-FSU's Cali Harrod reached base in three of her four plate appearances drawing three walks.
-Morgan Klaevmann also reached base three times as she was 2-for-2 with a walk.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Cabral's at-bat during the third inning was a 10-pitch effort win which she fouled off four two-strike pitches from Hanson.
-After recording just 28 pitches – 21 strikes – through the first two innings, South Alabama forced Hanson to throw 33 in the third.
-Florida State left eight runners on base, while South Alabama left just four stranded.
GAME FACTS
-FSU had runners in scoring position in both the first and third innings, but Brown was able to Carsyn Gordon Looking to end the opening inning and then Sherrill to ground out to end the third.
-South capitalized on the missed opportunities by the Seminoles in the bottom half of the third. USA loaded the bases with no outs on a single (Cabral), walk (Harris) and a FSU fielding error (MC Nichols) before Todd lined a two-run single back up the middle into center field.
-The Seminoles again threatened in the next half inning placing runners at second and third, but Brown was able to get a ground out to second to end the inning.
-The Jaguars added to their lead their next time up as Krzywiecki drove a 3-2 pitch from Hanson over the wall in left center for her first home run of the year.
-FSU loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh and plated its first run on an infield chopper by Warren. However, Klaevmann got caught in a run-down trying to score from second and was tagged out on the play. Brown then recorded her ninth strikeout of the evening to end the game.
NOTES
-Krzywiecki's home run in the fourth marked the second straight game that South Alabama has recorded a home run. It was also the third of her career.
-The win over the Seminoles marked the first non-conference win by the Jaguars over a ranked opponent since the Jags picked up a 5-0 win over USC-Upstate in the NCAA Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on May 17, 2014.
-It was the first win over a ranked opponent since a 2-0 win over Louisiana, who was ranked 10th at the time, in the Sun Belt Conference Championship on May 9, 2015 in San Marcos, Texas. The win snapped a streak of 14-straight losses to ranked competition.
-The win also marked the first home win versus a non-conference ranked opponent since the 2014 season opener against No. 21 UAB on Feb. 6, 2014 in which the Jags defeated the Blazers 8-0 in a five-inning contest.
-Warren's RBI in the seventh set a new FSU school record as it was the 217th of her career.
-The two-hit performance marked the second career multi-hit game of Cabral's career.
-The Seminoles entered the game with 39 extra-base hits in their first 10 games of the season, but did not record one in the opener.
-In her previous five appearances, FSU starter Kylee Hanson had allowed just two earned runs, before giving up three to South Alabama Wednesday night.
GAME TWO
Final Score: Florida State 14, South Alabama 1
Records: No. 9/7 Florida State (9-3), South Alabama (6-5)
Game 2 Box Score (PDF)
SCORING PLAYS
-1 Inn. — FSU, 1-0 — Warren home run to right (RBI)
-2 Inn. — FSU, 2-0 — Klaevmann bases-loaded walk (RBI), scoring Cassidy Davis
-2 Inn. — FSU, 6-0 — Warren grand slam to center (4 RBI), scoring Davis, Dani Morgan and Sabrina Stutsman
-2 Inn. — FSU, 8-0 — Gordon home run to left (2 RBI), scoring Sherrill
-3 Inn. — FSU, 10-0 — Harrod double to center (2 RBI), scoring Davis and Morgan
-3 Inn. — FSU, 12-0 — Gordon single up the middle (2 RBI), scoring Harrod and Stutsman
-4 Inn. — USA, 12-1 — Brittani Reid scores on a fielding error at first.
-5 Inn. — FSU, 14-1 — Morgan single to right (2 RBI), scoring Mackenzie Puckett and Davis
KEY MOMENT OF THE GAME
-With the Seminoles holding a 1-0 advantage, FSU broke the game open with a seven-run second inning, which was highlighted by Warren's grand slam and second home run of the contest.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
-Warren was 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, two home runs, two runs scored and five runs driven in for the Seminoles.
-Gordon also finished the night with a pair of hits, a run scored and 4 RBI, while Davis was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a double.
-FSU's Morgan was 2-for-3 in the win a pair of runs driven in and a pair of runs scored.
-Meghan King (4-2) struck out six Jaguar batters in her three innings of work.
-Todd had the lone hit for South Alabama, while B. Reid and Haleigh Lowe also reached base via walks.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Florida State had four players finish the contest with two or more hits and four players score two runs.
-Each team used three pitchers in game two of the double header, while the trio of Seminoles combined to record a one-hitter.
-In the fourth inning, FSU's hitters forced A. Reid to go to full counts five times in the inning.
-FSU batted around in back-to-back innings in the second and third sending a total of 10 batters to the plate each inning.
-South Alabama did not record a 1-2-3 inning in the second game of the doubleheader, but was retired in order in the second and third innings.
GAME FACTS
-Warren put the Noles on the board first in the opening inning with a solo shot to right off of Alexis Reid (2-3).
-Florida State broke the game open its next time up as the Seminoles erupted for seven runs on four hits; the big blows coming on a grand slam by Warren, her second home run of the game, and a two-run shot by Gordon to left.
-FSU added four more runs in the top of the third to extend its lead to 12-0 as the Seminoles sent 10 batters to the plate for the second straight inning. Harrod (double) and Gordon (single) both drove in a pair during the inning.
-The Jaguars prevented the shutout with a run in the fourth. B. Reid walked to start the inning and advanced around to third on a ground out and a wild pitch. With two outs in the inning, the Jag leftfielder came into score on a fielding error by Puckett at first base.
-FSU added two more runs in to top of the fifth to give the final margin (15-1) after a two-run single to right by Morgan that was just out of reach of USA's Megan Harris in right.
NOTES
-Warren's home run in the top of the first was the 66th of her career, setting a new Atlantic Coast Conference record.
-Todd's first-inning single extended her hit streak to seven games, as well as her reached base safely streak to that same number.
-After being held without an extra-base hit in the opener, FSU recorded six extra-base hits – three doubles and three home runs in game two.
-The 14 runs were the most allowed by the Jaguars on their home field and only the third time in program history that an opponent has scored double digits at Jaguar Field.
-The 14 runs are also the most scored by an opponent since Arizona State (20) on Feb. 27, 2009.
-The 13-run margin of defeat is tied for the second-largest margin of victory by an opponent, matching Florida (13-0) on 2/14/09 in Gainesville, Fla.
-South Alabama freshman pitcher Megan Dudenhefer made her collegiate debut when she entered in relief to start the third inning.
-Sophomore pitcher Bailey Murphy also her season debut with two innings of relief.
THEY SAID IT
Head coach Becky Clark
-On the win in game one: "The first game showed what we are capable of when we put it all together. We made some tough pitches in some tough situation, made some great defensive plays in some tuff situations, and we had timely hitting. I was proud of us for getting the job done with runners in scoring position. I thought it was a great team win all the way around."
-On the loss in game two: "Game two just got away from us. It wasn't for a lack of effort; the kids were working hard. It didn't work out for us and sometimes that happens. "
-On looking to this weekend: "For us going into this weekend, we need to latch to the first game and flush the second game and get ready to compete again."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_Jags. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub
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