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JAGUARS WELCOME VENEZUELAN NATIONAL TEAM TO JAGUAR FIELD FRIDAY NIGHT

MOBILE, Ala. ? The South Alabama softball team will host the Venezuelan National Team at Jaguar Field for an exhibition game Friday night at 6 p.m.

 

This past summer, head coach Ramon Lopez’s Venezuelan squad took seventh in the World Championships in China and were rewarded the opportunity to host one of the Pre-Olympic Qualifiers this past August. Venezuela took first place in the qualifier with a win over Puerto Rico. With the victory, the Venezuelan National Softball Team became the first woman’s sports team in any sport to qualify for the Olympic Games. The team will compete Aug. 12-21 in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

 

Venezuela pitcher Mariangee Bogado threw a no-hitter in the Pan American games against Puerto Rico. The team accomplished their biggest victory in history with a win over Cuba and finished second in the tournament.

 

South Alabama head coach Becky Clark coached Venezuelan infielders Maria Soto and Denisse Fuenmayor when Clark was at the University of Mobile. Fuenmayor was an NAIA All-American three years and was named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2004. Soto had very successful 2003 season as she was named to the All-American team as well as Regional and Conference Player of the Year.   

 

The Jags are coming off a 3-3 record last week and 2-3 in the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. over the weekend. Last Wednesday, USA beat Southern Miss 3-0, giving the Jags its first home win of the season. Beth Pilgrim pitched a one-hit, complete-game shutout and struck out nine in the process. Despite pitching well in four starts last week, Pilgrim posted a 1-2 record, both losses coming in starts against No. 9 LSU.

 

In the first game of the tournament, the Jags beat Big Ten member Penn State 1-0 in eight innings. In a well pitched game by both starters, freshman Shannon Smith picked up her second win of the season. The team played No. 9 LSU tough, losing 7-0 Friday and 1-0 Sunday in the semi-finals. Senior Amanda Leggett busted out of a pitching slump with a complete-game shutout in eight innings in a rematch with Southern Miss Saturday night. First baseman Autumn Hudson hit a single down the third base line to score Jenny Stevens from third to win the game. Leggett pitched 8.2 innings over the weekend, giving up two hits, no runs, and struck out 9 batters. Leggett was the only Jaguar named to the Purple and Gold All-Tournament Team.

 

The Lady Jags will have the weekend off to prepare for a week long road trip over the University’s spring break. USA begin the trip in Oxford, Miss. at 3 p.m. CT against Mississippi.
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