MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ? After splitting a doubleheader with Middle Tennessee on Saturday, the University of South Alabama softball team secured its second Sun Belt Conference series win with a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon.  With the win, USA improves to 19-11 overall and 4-2 in the SBC, while MT falls to 16-18 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

Junior Ashley Elmore led off the game with a shot to the left side that was bobbled by shortstop Shelby Stiner, allowing her to reach first.  She was moved to second on a base hit by junior Evelyne Pare and later scored on an RBI single to centerfield by sophomore Tara Donaldson for the first and only run of the game. 

The Jaguars had five more hits and six more runners on base, but could not get any of them across the plate.  The Blue Raiders only had three base runners on the day, but were unable to score any runs to give the Jags the series win.

Senior Linden Jones (13-6) pitched 4.1 innings before giving up the only Blue Raider hit on a single from Stiner.  Jones picked up the win, pitching a complete-game shutout, only giving up one hit and striking out six MT batters.  Lindsey Vander Lugt (12-12) took the loss, giving up one unearned run on seven hits, walking one Jag and striking out three.

USA will be back at home for a single game against Southern Miss on Monday at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field before traveling to Macon, Ga., for a doubleheader against Mercer on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m.  The Jags will be back to conference action March 31-April 1 for a three-game series against Florida Atlantic at Jaguar Field.