MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama softball team swept the North Texas Mean Green in the Jags’ first Sun Belt Conference match-up. The Jags’ took the first game 1-0 and the second, by a score of 4-3. With the win, USA improves to 15-9 and 2-0 in the conference. North Texas is now 7-20 and 3-2 in the SBC.
“I thought we had a great team effort today,” said head coach Becky Clark. “We got contributions from a lot of different people. We didn’t hit the ball the way we normally do, but we know that isn’t going to happen every time. Our biggest keys today were our defense and pitching.”
In the first game of the double header, senior Linden Jones (9-5) picked up the win, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before UNT’s Kadie Platt broke it up, with a single to lead off the inning. Pitching a complete game shutout, Jones struck out nine batters and did not allow a walk.
The Jags’ lone run was scored in the fourth inning by freshman Katie McGuire with the help of a North Texas error. The unearned run gave USA a 1-0 lead, which it was able to hang on to, for its first conference win of the inaugural season.
Ashley Lail took the loss for UNT, giving up one run on five hits. She struck out nine batters and walked one, in six innings of work.
Junior Amanda Leggett gave up two early runs in the second game, but fought back, holding the Mean Green and not allowing another run. Junior Evelyne Pare was able to score one in the first inning on a sacrifice by Corey Race. The Jags tied the game in the fourth with doubles by freshman Carolina Mendoza and junior Taylor Rich.
South Alabama took the lead in the sixth inning with back-to-back runs from freshmen Katie McGuire and Jenny Stevens, giving the Jaguars a 4-2 lead. With two outs in the top of the seventh, North Texas added one more run, but Leggett was able to record a strikeout of Platt, to end the game.
Leggett (2-2) picked up her second win of the season, striking out three and allowing three runs on six hits in seven innings. Lail (4-7) picked up her second loss of the day, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out one batter in 1.2 innings of work.
The Jags and the Mean Green will play the final game of the three-game series Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Live Stats for the game can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com. Tickets for Jaguar games can be bought at the gate or can be purchased by calling the USA Ticket Office at (251) 460-6047. Ticket prices are $5.00 for General Admission, $3.00 for children ages 6-17 and $3.00 for senior citizens 62 and over. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff with valid ID, as well as children under six years old.
