JACKSONVILLE, Ala ? The University of South Alabama softball team (2-1) captured two wins on Saturday, defeating Belmont and Jacksonville State in the opening day of the Jacksonville State Gamecock Classic.
GAME ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 12, BELMONT 0
In the opener, USA (1-1) won its first game of its inaugural season with a 12-0 victory over Belmont. The loss drops the Bruins to 0-1 on the season.
With two outs in the first inning, Belmont pitcher Sammi Parks walked junior Kait Chernomaz, who later stole second. Sophomore Corey Race singled up the middle, plating Chernomaz for the first run of the game.
USA’s offense exploded in the second inning which began with Parks walking freshman Carolina Mendoza. Sophomore Kristen Hayes singled up the middle, putting runners on first and second. Freshman Julie Morton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners, who both eventually scored. The Jags scored the next four in a row, including a three-run home run by Race, before Parks got out of the inning with South Alabama leading 7-0.
In the third inning, the Bruins brought in relief pitcher Jennifer Batte, who gave up two more earned and three unearned runs, to extend the Jags lead, 12-0.
The game was called in the fifth inning, due to the run rule, when Belmont was unable to score.
Parks (0-1) took the loss for the Bruins, giving up seven hits and seven runs in her two innings pitched. South Alabama freshman Beth Pilgrim (1-0) got the win for the Jaguars, striking out nine and only giving up three hits in five innings of work.
The Jags had seven stolen bases, with three from junior Evelyne Pare, two from Chernomaz and one each from Ashley Elmore and Katie McGuire.
GAME TWO: SOUTH ALABAMA 5, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
In the Jags’ second game of the day, USA handed Jacksonville State its first loss of the season, with a 5-4 decision.
The Jaguars got on the board early in the first inning with Pare reaching on an error. Gamecock starting pitcher Karla Pittman then hit the next two batters to load the bases. Race singled through the left side of the infield to score Pare from third. Pittman then walked Hayes to bring in another South Alabama run. Mendoza kept the scoring going for USA when she plated Chernomaz on a sacrifice fly ball. Hayes and freshman Katie McGuire later scored to give the Jags a 5-0 lead.
After two quick innings for the Jag defense, Allie Barker got JSU on the board in the third inning with a solo shot to centerfield. Two more Gamecocks scored in the inning to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Jacksonville State battled back in the seventh inning. Lead off batter Rachel Fleming hit a solo home run of her own to make it a one-run game. The Jags settled down and were able to hold the lead for their second victory of the day.
Senior Linden Jones (1-1) got the win, pitching a complete game and striking out 11 hitters, while allowing four runs on six hits. Pittman (1-1) took the loss for JSU, giving up five runs on four hits and striking out 10.
With the win, USA improves to 2-1, while JSU falls to 3-1.
The Jags will complete its tournament action on Sunday when South Alabama takes on the Gamecocks at Noon.
