ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. ? The University of South Alabama softball team went 1-1 Friday night at the Altamonte Springs Tournament. The Jags handed Villanova (6-1) its first loss of the season in an 8-1 victory and then suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 extra inning loss to Eastern Michigan (2-11).
In USA’s opener, the Wildcats got on the board first with two base hits and a sacrifice fly to score their first and only run of the game in the first inning. The Jags answered back in the bottom of the inning when Villanova’s Kat Walsh walked in a run with the bases loaded, to tie the game at one.
USA added two more in the third, with back-to-back solo home runs by designated player Tara Donaldson and right fielder Katie McGuire, before Villanova brought in a new pitcher. VU’s Laura Determan was able to get out of the inning, without giving up any runs, but the Jags plated five in the fourth on four hits, including a three-run home run by freshman Jenny Stevens.
The Jaguars had other opportunities to score, loading the bases twice in the fifth inning and once in the sixth, but were unable to add to their 8-1 lead. The Wildcats had two runners on base in the seventh, but could not get any more runs across the plate, to fall 8-1.
Senior Linden Jones (4-2) picked up her fourth win of the season, striking out six and only walking one in seven innings of work. Walsh (0-1) suffered the loss for Villanova, giving up three runs on six hits, while striking out four and walking two in two innings pitched.
After two scoreless innings in the nightcap against Eastern Michigan, the Jaguars loaded the bases to lead off the top of the third. A base hit by junior Kait Chernomaz and a double from Donaldson scored the runners to give USA a 3-0 lead.
EMU led off the fourth inning with a solo home run by Jenny Scherer, but the Jag defense was able to retire the next three batters to end the inning.
In the sixth inning the Eagles battled back, loading the bases with no outs. All three runners advanced on an illegal pitch by freshman Beth Pilgrim, scoring Ashley Strauss and cutting the deficit to 3-2. With one out and runners on second and third, Jessica Grant grounded to Stevens, who tried to make a play at home but the throw was not in time, plating Lindsay Schmid, to tie the game at three runs each.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, first baseman Corey Race hit a two-run shot to right field, giving the Jags a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the inning, but Eastern Michigan tied it up again with a two-run shot of its own, by Schmid, before the third out was recorded.
Due to the International tiebreaker rule, a runner is placed at second base to begin each extra inning of play. In the top of the eighth inning Stevens was placed on second and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Julie Morton. With two outs, Rich was walked, putting runners at first and third with two outs, but the Jags were unable to get any runs across.
In the bottom of the inning, Scherer was placed on second and moved up on a base hit by Grant. Freshman Jill Jozefowicz recorded her first career base hit, to score the winning run and give the Eagles their second win of the season.
Pilgrim (3-2) suffers the loss, giving up six runs on 11 hits, while striking out five and only walking two, in eight innings of work. Aimee Woodrum (1-3) took the win, giving up five runs on 13 hits and striking out four batters, while only walking two.
USA will continue action in the Altamonte Springs Tournament Saturday at 3 p.m. (ET) against Stetson, followed by a 7 p.m. contest against Holy Cross.
