MOBILE, Ala. ? University of South Alabama’s softball team was unable to overcome an early Alabama lead in a 7-1 defeat Sunday afternoon in front of a the largest crowd to ever witness a game at Jaguar Field.

USA welcomed 1,463 fans for the third day of the South Alabama Invitational, the largest attendance recorded in the program’s three-year history. Fans from across the state gathered to watch the Jaguars take on an Alabama team that played in the 2008 Women’s College World Series.

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning when a two-out error led to three unearned runs. Kelley Montalvo scored on Jennifer Fenton’s bunt single, and Fenton came around to score on a wild pitch.

Later in the inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Ashley Holcombe reached on a dropped fly ball in center field to bring in unearned runs by Lauren Parker, Kellie Eubanks and Cassandra Reilly-Boccia. An inning later, Reilly-Boccia singled up the middle to bring in Charlotte Morgan, and the Tide took a 6-0 lead.

Alabama Pitcher Charlotte Morgan faced the minimum number of USA batters in the first three innings, but Katie McGuire ended Morgan’s no-hit bid with a double to left field in the fourth. Morgan managed to escape the inning without further damage when Tara Donaldson grounded out to second base for the third out.

USA got on the board in the fifth when Marissa Boyd came in on a sacrifice fly to right field by Danielle Honore. However, that’s all the offense the Jags would manage, and Alabama added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Lunceford scored on Montalvo’s single up the middle.

“Right now it is a matter of execution,” head coach Becky Clark said.  “Alabama is No. 3 in the nation, but it doesn’t matter anymore. It is Division I softball and we have to be able to execute and make the plays. That is they place where I have to get them, and we will get there. We will do whatever it takes to get to that point.”

After winning its opener against Northwestern State, South Alabama dropped its final three games and finished its opening weekend with a 1-3 record.

“I’m looking forward to playing Nicholls on Wednesday,” Clark said. “It gives us a chance to come back out, regroup, and go at another team. You hate to end a tournament on three losses, so you’re looking to come back out on Wednesday and gather yourself to get back where you need to be.”

Sunday’s first game featured Alabama and Jacksonville State, and resulted in a 9-0 Crimson Tide win.The game was a rematch of the 2008 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Final when Alabama beat the Gamecocks to advance to the Women’s College World Series.

In game nine of the invitational, Northwestern State beat Memphis 6-4, marking their first win of the year. Northwestern State and Memphis ended the weekend with 1-3 and 2-2 records, respectively.