MONROE, La. ? Four home runs, including two grand slams in game one and a late rally in game two led the University of South Alabama softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Louisiana-Monroe in Friday’s contests. The Jags improve to 26-14 overall and 6-5 in the Sun Belt Conference, while ULM falls to 19-26 overall and 1-10 in conference play.
Game One: South Alabama 15, Louisiana-Monroe 1
The Jaguars got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first inning Junior Evelyne Pare drew a lead-off walk before junior Ashley Elmore laid down a bunt for a base hit. Both runners advanced on a double-steal and sophomore Corey Race hit a ground-ball to score Pare. Sophomore Tara Donaldson hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Elmore on a fielding error by ULM catcher Heather Williams giving USA a 2-0 lead.
A solo home run by third baseman Taylor Rich in the second inning and one by Race in the third extended the Jags lead to 4-0.
Shortstop Carolina Mendoza, junior Kait Chernomaz, and Rich each scored a run in the fourth inning before Donaldson came to bat with bases loaded and no outs to hit a first-pitch grand slam to give South Alabama an 11-0 advantage.
Louisiana-Monroe got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a lead-off single on a bunt by second baseman Heather Hanson. She scored later in the inning on an infield single by centerfielder Calli Baker for the Warhawks’ only run of the game.
With two outs and bases loaded in the fifth inning, second baseman Jenny Stevens hit the second grand slam of the game for a 15-1 lead. Senior Linden Jones struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth to give USA a 15-1 run-rule victory over the Warhawks.
Jones (16-8) picked up the win, only giving up one run on three hits. She struck out nine batters and did not walk any in five innings of work. Lindsay Rittenhouse (12-13) suffered the loss giving up three runs on two hits, striking out four batters and walking two in 2.0 innings pitched.
Game Two: South Alabama 8, Louisiana Monroe 5 (8 innings)
In the nightcap, Louisiana-Monroe struck first in the third inning with a solo home run by shortstop Cary Roussel for a 1-0 lead.
Catcher Kristen Hayes led off the fifth inning with a base hit to the left side. Freshman Katie McGuire came in to pinch run and reached third on a two-base throwing error by the third baseman. She scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Elmore to tie the game at one run each.
The Warhawks took the lead again in the bottom of the inning with double Hanson to score Roussel who reached on a walk. They added insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run by Baker to lead off the inning and a two-out two-run homer by Roussel for a 5-1 lead.
The Jags tied it up in the seventh with runs scored by Rich, Pare, Elmore and Race on four base hits. They were able to hold ULM in the bottom of the inning to send the game into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Jags took the lead again with Hayes and Rich leading off the inning with base hits. Pare laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up before Elmore doubled to the centerfield wall scoring both runners. Two batters later, Donaldson singled to rightfield to score Elmore and put USA up 8-5. Jones struck out the side in the bottom of the inning for the victory and the sweep.
Jones picked up her second win of the day, pitching 2.0 innings, while striking out five batters. She did not allow any runs, hits or walks. Kandace Causey (1-4) took the loss in game two, giving up three runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out one batter in 1.0 inning of work.
The Jags will conclude the series Saturday at Noon. Live Stats can be accessed at www.usajaguars.com.
Following the series, USA will travel to Auburn, Ala., for a single game against Auburn on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. The Jaguars will be back in Sun Belt action next weekend in a three-game series with defending SBC champion, Louisiana-Lafayette. The series will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m.
