MOBILE, Ala. ? Freshman Katy Neal recorded her first collegiate win Tuesday night as the University of South Alabama softball team beat Jackson State 5-1 at Jaguar Field.
Neal made the start for USA in the circle and pitched four innings for the Jags (5-9-1), recording nine strikeouts to earn her first win of the season. Three pitchers made appearances in the win.
“It’s exciting to see Katy Neal back out on the mound, I thought she had a great start,” said head coach Becky Clark. “All three of our pitchers did a great job throwing strikes.”
Jackson State (7-10) scored the first run of the game in the second inning off Alla Williams’ single through the left side that brought home Wendi Reed.
The Jags answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Marissa Boyd singled to right field to bring Julie Morton across the plate to tie the game. Kalin Lasseter then scored off a Tiger error, followed by Boyd who was brought in by a Katie McGuire hit.
Up 3-1, McGuire tripled to right center in the fourth to put the Jags in scoring position. Christin Crocker singled through the left side to extend a 4-1 lead.
Haley Hopkins made her first appearance this season in the circle when she entered the game in the top of the fifth. She struck out one of the three batters faced during the inning. USA’s third pitcher of the game, Beth Pilgrim, came on in the sixth inning and would earn her first save of the season after collecting five strikeouts in two innings of work.
USA capped the scoring in the sixth when Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Carolina Mendoza’s sacrifice fly scored McGuire. McGuire went 2-for-4 against JSU with one double, a triple and two runs scored.
“I like what our hitters did to make the adjustment and drive the ball into the gaps," Clark said. "We needed this win tonight at home. We need some momentum going into a very tough tournament this weekend.”
JSU’s Jessica Villegas took the loss for the Tigers, giving up four runs (two earned) in four innings. Brittanie Talley finished the game, surrendering a run in two innings pitched.
The Jags return to action Friday when they head to the Arizona State Wilson/DeMarini Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., to face New Mexico State at 2 p.m. That will be followed by an 8:30 p.m. matchup against defending 2008 Women’s College World Series champion Arizona State.
“All of our tournaments have been strong tournaments, and this is another one,” said Clark. “The biggest thing is that we get our pitching set for conference play. This is a chance for us to work out some final kinks before conference action starts.”
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).
