MOBILE, Ala. ? South Alabama softball swept all three games of its weekend tournament with an opening win over Northwest Florida State College and a pair of victories over Wallace-Dothan Community College. The Jaguars outscored their opponents 17-6 in their weekend sweep.
Jaguar softball made a statement Saturday with three big wins that showcased hitting, defense and leadership. Jag pitcher Beth Pilgrim allowed only one hit in seven innings against NFSC. Katy Neal, Haley Hopkins and Meghan Harbuck combined to allow 10 hits in the two-game faceoff with Wallace-Dothan.
Game One: USA 2, NFSC 0
The Jaguars came out strong in the first inning when Hopkins drove in Courtney Chigaros with a double to center field. Two batters later, Hopkins came around to score when Kalin Lasseter reached first on a fielding error. That was all the offense Pilgrim would need, as NFSC’s only hit came in the third inning when Brittany Dunson reached on an infield single. Pilgrim went the distance in the seven-inning game, striking out 11 batters while walking two.
Game Two: USA 3, Wallace-Dothan 2
Using the momentum built up from their win against NFSC, the Jags held Wallace-Dothan scoreless through the first six innings. USA scored the first runs of the game in the fourth inning when Meghan Harbuck drove in Kait Chernomaz on a sacrifice fly and Carolina Mendoza came home on a wild pitch. Tina Hiley drove in Christin Crocker in the fifth inning to give the Jags a 3-0 lead. Wallace-Dothan capitalized on a pair of Jaguar errors and recorded two unearned runs to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Hopkins came back to retire the next three batters in order to end the game.
Game Three: USA 12, Wallace-Dothan 4
After a close battle in game one, Wallace-Dothan plated a pair of runs in the second inning. However, the Jags answered with runs in each of the next four innings. Junior Jenny Stevens scored the Jags’ first run on a double to left field by Crocker in the second inning. Stevens, Chernomaz and Tara Donaldson each scored in the third inning to start the Jaguar rally. The fourth inning brought eight Jags up to bat and notched three runs by Kelsey Volz, Kelsy Donaldson and Katie McGuire. USA padded its lead in the fifth inning when Chigaros, Chernomaz, Corey Race, Marissa Boyd and McGuire each came across the plate to end the game on the mercy-rule.
USA returns to action Saturday Oct. 11th at West Florida’s Fall Tournament in Pensacola, Fla.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
