MOBILE, Ala. ? The University of South Alabama’s Beth Pilgrim threw her first no hitter of the season Thursday in a 9-0 shutout victory over Saint Louis at Jaguar Field while Katy Neal followed by allowing just one hit in the second game of the doubleheader, an 8-1 Jag win. Due to weather, the USA softball team will open its Sun Belt Conference series against North Texas at 6 p.m. Friday.
Six Jags recorded hits in at least half of their at bats against an SLU (6-16) squad that managed just one hit on the night. USA (12-12-1) was led by Tara Donaldson who went 3-for-3 with one home run in the first game and was 4-for-7 on the day.
USA built a 3-0 lead in the first game in the fourth when Kristen Hayes’ single up the middle brought home Donaldson. In the next at bat Kelsey Volz singled down the right-field line to plate Marissa Boyd for a second run. Hayes came home for the third run of the inning on Christin Crocker’s single to left. All the runs were unearned.
The Jags added to their advantage in the fifth when Kait Chernomaz fired a deep single to center field that brought home Carolina Mendoza.
SLU tried to finish the inning by bringing in Erin Kelly to pitch for Kelcie Matesa (2-5), who left the game after allowing 10 hits and six runs in four innings. Kelly would close the game with two hits against in 1.1 innings of work.
Boyd continued the Jaguars’ offensive surge despite the pitching change by recording her first career home run on a three-RBI hit that sailed down the left field line. Kalin Lasseter and Chernomaz scored on the play to bump the USA lead to 7-0.
Donaldson ended the 9-0 game due to the run rule after a two-run homer to right center that scored Katie McGuire early in the sixth.
“Our offense came back and hit ball when they needed to; we had good situational hitting tonight,” head coach Becky Clark said. “Overall it has been nice to put four wins on the board in two days before we get ready to play North Texas.”
Pilgrim pitched six innings, allowing no hits and just one Billiken runner on base. She finished the complete game shutout with eight strikeouts to move her to 7-6 on the year.
In the second game Corey Race put USA on the board in the second on a double down the right field line that plated Chernomaz. Two batters later Danielle Honore doubled to left field to score Race. Up 2-0, Crocker extended the lead after her triple to right brought home Honore.
Crocker would go 2-for-4 with a single, double and three RBI in the game.
With a three-run lead Crocker would continue the damage with a two-run double to left field that scored Honore and Boyd. McGuire would push the lead to 7-0 after her single up the middle brought around Crocker and Volz.
The Billikens scored their only run of the night when Keri O’Keefe came home unearned. Neal notched the win, her fifth in six decisions, after holding SLU to only one hit.
“Our pitchers did a great job,” said Clark. “They only gave up one hit the whole day. Beth was huge throwing a no-hitter and Katy taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning.”
Mendoza capped the scoring with a solo homer to left field to seal the 8-1 USA victory. She leads the USA squad with five home runs this season.
Stacy Gillette took the loss for the Billikens, finishing the game two strikeouts and allowing 10 hits.
Due to weather the Jaguar softball will play its conference opener against North Texas starting Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a double header at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday 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).
