MOBILE, Ala. ? Jacksonville State handed South Alabama softball its first loss of the season in a 6-2 defeat Saturday afternoon, and the Jaguars later fell to Memphis 7-4 in a game that ended just before midnight.
In the early game, South Alabama jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Tara Donaldson brought in Kelsey Volz with a single up the middle in the third inning. Volz walked three times during the game and also reached base after being hit by a pitch.
In the fourth inning, a Jaguar error in center field with two outs led to four unearned runs for Jacksonville State. USA starter Meghan Harbuck was unable to escape the inning, and Shannon Smith came on in relief to get the third out on a strikeout.
South Alabama gave up two more runs in the fifth when Kaycee Crow doubled to left center, driving in Hillary Downs and Allison Svoboda. The Jags had a chance for a comeback in the bottom of the inning when Volz reached on a walk, Kait Chernomaz was hit by a pitch and Tara Donaldson walked to load the bases with no outs.
However, Kalin Lasseter struck out, and after Haley Hopkins reached on a fielder’s choice that brought in Volz, Marissa Boyd flied out to right field to end the inning with the Jags trailing 6-2. JSU pitcher Karla Pittman kept the Jags off the board for the rest of the game, and USA finished with just two hits.
In South Alabama’s second game of the evening, Memphis jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Heather Mott homered to center field. USA tied the game in the second, when a sacrifice fly to center field by Christin Crocker allowed Hopkins to score, but the Jags were unable to capitalize on additonal scoring opportunities, stranding eight runners in the first three innings.
Memphis took advantage of two USA errors and retook the lead in the bottom of the second with four unearned runs. Brittany Gooch, Lelani Bernardino and Heather Mott each drove in runs with base hits. The Tigers scored two additonal runs in the third inning when Jessica Phillips singled up the middle with runners on second and third.
USA had another chance to rally in the seventh when a pair of Memphis errors helped load the bases with one out. Courtney Chigaros and Crocker each collected RBI with infield singles to cut Memphis’ lead to 7-4, but Volz struck out and Chernomaz grounded out to end the game.
In game three of the tournament, a matchup between No. 3 Alabama and Northwestern State, the Crimson Tide notched an 11-2 win for its first win of the season.
Prior to taking on the Jags, Memphis fell to Alabama 7-2 in game five of the South Alabama Invitational.
Jacksonville State posted its second win of the day in a 2-1 win over Northwestern State in game six.
Up next for South Alabama, a 2 p.m. battle Sunday against No. 3 Alabama at Jaguar Field.
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).
