MACON, Ga. ? The University of South Alabama softball team captured a pair of non-conference victories Wednesday night at Sikes Field on the campus of Mercer University. USA won the opener 7-2 and then took the series finale, 2-0.
South Alabama improves to 22-11 on the season, while Mercer falls to 7-29. The Jags will now return home for a three game conference series versus Florida Atlantic. USA and the Owls will open the series with a doubleheader on Saturday and conclude the series on Sunday. Action on both days is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
South Alabama 7, Mercer 2 (Game One)
The Lady Bears broke through in the scoring column first. Leadoff batter Holly Oglesbee was hit by the very first pitch in the bottom of the inning and advanced around to third base after a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. With runners at the corners and two outs, Oglesbee came into score after an errant throw on a pick off attempt at first.
Mercer added another run in the bottom of the third when Jamie Madruga hit her team-leading ninth home run of the season to center field.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the top of the fourth, the Jags finally broke through on the scoreboard with a four spot. Taylor Rich drove home the first run of the day for South Alabama with a solid two-out single to the gap in left center that plated Jag first baseman Corey Race from third. Evelyne Pare then provided the big hit when she blasted a three-run shot over the wall in center to give USA the 4-2 lead. For Pare, it was her third hit in as many at bats.
In the fifth, the Jags added a pair of runs to stretch their lead out to four. USA’s Race drilled her sixth home run of the season of Bear starter Stephanie Rossman, this one a one-out shot to left. After a Mercer pitching change, Jag catcher Kristen Hayes brought in Jenny Stevens who had walked earlier in the inning.
USA added an insurance run in sixth when Tara Donaldson singled to right to bring in Amanda Leggett.
Jag starter Linden Jones improved to 14-6 on the season with her 12th complete game of the season. Jones struck out 10 Bear batters on the afternoon, while allowing just one earned run. Rossman took the loss.
Pare led the way offensively for South Alabama in the opener, recording a perfect 4-for-4 performance, while driving in three runs.
South Alabama 2, Mercer 0 (Game Two)
Ashley Elmore put the Jags out 1-0 in the night cap, when the junior leftfielder led off the top of the fourth inning with her second home run of the season.
Mercer threatened to tie the game up in the sixth when Laura Persons broke up Jag starter Beth Pilgrim’s perfect game with a single to right. The Bear catcher advanced to second on the play when the ball was misplayed in the outfield and rolled to the wall. Pilgrim, however, kept her composure and set the next three batters down in order, getting Holly Oglesbee to pop out to third to end the inning.
USA plated one more run in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 2-0 when with the bases loaded, Rich drove in pinch runner Kait Chernomaz with an RBI ground out.
Pilgrim held Mercer in check in the seventh and recorded her third complete game shut out of the season en route to the victory. The Jag freshman is now 5-3 on the season with the win. Mercer’s Rossman took the loss and falls to 2-7.
