JAGUAR SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH FLORIDA ATLANTIC

MOBILE, Ala. ? After falling 3-2 to Florida Atlantic in a close contest the University of South Alabama softball team came back to beat the Owls 5-2 in the second game of a doubleheader at Jaguar Field Wednesday night.

In the second game the Jags (17-17-1, 3-5 SBC) put up two early runs in the first after Carolina Mendoza pushed Christin Crocker to second on a sacrifice bunt. Crocker then came in on Tara Donaldson’s single through the middle; she would score later on Kait Chernomaz’s single up the middle.

FAU (19-18, 2-3 SBC) brought in Rose Gressley (4-9) to get the final out of the inning. Kat Stauffer came out after 0.2 innings in the circle. Gressley would finish the game with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

The Owls tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second when Cari Curfman came home on a passed ball. Ashlyn Parmerter scored the tying run off an error by the Jaguar infield.

USA gained the lead in the third when Mendoza came home on Corey Race’s RBI-single to right field. Danielle Honore brought in the final two runs of the game with her single to right field that plated Race and Chernomaz and put the Jags up 5-2.

Race went 1-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored, while Honore finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Pilgrim came in for Katy Neal during the fifth inning. Neal (8-2) finished the night with three strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched, while Pilgrim recorded her third save in the win.

“We had some timely hitting in the second game,” said head coach Becky Clark. “The second game we did a better job hitting with runners in scoring position. Katy Neal did a good job, especially since she hasn’t been throwing a lot lately, and Beth was able to come in and close the door on them.”

In game one, FAU put up the first run in the first inning when Ambar Jones came home unearned on Amy Bukovich’s sacrifice fly to right field.

USA answered back with two runs of its own when Kalin Lasseter’s single up the middle brought around Crocker and Katie McGuire to push a 2-1 Jaguar lead.

The Owls edged a 3-2 advantage in the third after Kerri Croney plated Christine Houghtaling on a double to left center. Croney scored two batters later on Blair Bodenmiller’s bunt down the first base line.

“Pitching was good enough to give us a chance to win both of them,” Clark said. “We didn’t get the job done defensively in the first game or get the hits when we needed them.”

Beth Pilgrim (9-9) took the loss for the Jags after striking out eight in 7.0 innings of work. Amber Barton (5-3) notched the win for FAU, striking out nine while scattering only three hits.

The Jaguars will play the final game of the series against FAU at 1 p.m. Thursday.

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).

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