MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama softball team won two of its three games in its inaugural home opening tournament Saturday.  The Jags downed Grambling State (1-9) in their first game of the tournament, 13-1 and followed up with an 8-0 win over Southeastern Louisiana (10-5).  In USA’s third game, the Jaguars fell 3-0 to Birmingham Southern (4-6).  USA is now 5-5 on the season.

In game one, senior Linden Jones got the Jags off to a great start, striking out six Lady Tigers in a row in the first two innings.  After a three-up-three down first inning, the Jags’ offense exploded in the second.  Catcher Kristen Hayes led off the inning with a single to the left side.  The next five batters reached base before an out was recorded by Grambling State.  Six base hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch, led the Jaguars to a nine-run inning.  They later added four more runs in the in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of two-run home runs by freshman Jenny Stevens and sophomore Tara Donaldson.

Grambling State was able to prevent the shutout, adding one run in the top of the fifth, but it was not enough.  The game was called at the end of the half inning, due to the run-rule.

Jones (3-3) picked up her second win of the season, striking out eight of nine batters faced, in three innings of work.  Jackie DeLeon took the loss, giving up nine runs on six hits, in 1.1 innings pitched. 

In the Jags’ second game of the afternoon, leftfielder Evelyne Pare led off with a single to the left side.  She recorded her eighth stolen base of the season and later scored on a base-hit by sophomore Corey Race, to take a 1-0 lead over the Lady Lions. 

Freshman Katie McGuire hit a two-run home run, to extend the Jaguars’ lead in the fourth inning.  With two outs, Donaldson reached on a double to right field and was plated on a base-hit by junior Taylor Rich, to give USA a 4-0 lead.  They added four in the fifth inning to take an 8-0 lead which ended the game, due to the run rule, for the fourth time this season.

Jones recorded her third win, striking out seven and only giving up three hits in five innings of work.  Nicole Schoenberger (0-1) picked up the loss, giving up four runs on seven hits.  She recorded six strikeouts and only walked one. 

In the nightcap, Birmingham Southern got on the board in the first inning, when rightfielder Melissa Muehlenfeld singled to lead off the inning.  She later scored on an error by USA.  In the fourth inning, the Panthers added one more run to extend their lead 2-0.  A solo home run by Danielle Honore’ in the fifth inning gave added insurance to BSC and the Jaguars were unable to answer back.

Bethney Reynoldson (2-3) earned the win for the Panthers, striking out 11 batters and only allowing three runners to reach base on three hits. Beth Pilgrim (2-1) received the loss, giving up three runs on four hits.  She struck out five and only walked one batter. 

Due to Grambling State pulling out of the Jaguar Classic, there will only be two games Sunday.  Action begins at 10 a.m. with Birmingham Southern taking on Southeastern Louisiana.  The winner will face South Alabama in the Championship Game, scheduled for 12 p.m.

Tournament Scores (Saturday, Feb. 24)

Game 1:  Southeastern Louisiana 5, Birmingham Southern 4

Game 2:  SOUTH ALABAMA 13, Grambling State 1

Game 3:  Birmingham Southern 6, Grambling State 2

Game 4:  SOUTH ALABAMA 8, Southeastern Louisiana 0

Game 5:  Southeastern Louisiana 9, Grambling State 1

Game 6: Birmingham Southern 3, SOUTH ALABAMA 0