MOBILE, Ala. - University of South Alabama softball freshman pitcher Morgan Druhan posted a solid effort and held 24th-ranked Florida State to just two unearned runs, but it wasn't enough as the Seminoles held on for a 2-0 victory Wednesday evening at Jaguar Field.
Druhan (1-7) went the distance in the circle, allowing just four hits and striking out seven.
"Morgan did a great job tonight," Jaguar head coach Becky Clark said. "I've been confident that she has that type of ability and it was huge for her to step up and pitch seven strong innings tonight. We had a couple opportunities offensively and we just didn't get it done. We made some great plays and diving catches, but we made some costly errors. When you play a great team like FSU, they don't let you off the hook on those."
Terese Gober (19-8) earned the win for the Seminoles after pitching the complete-game shutout, striking out six. Gober did not allow a Jag runner to advance past second and held USA to just two hits.
Freshman outfielder Britany Campbell and senior shortstop Carolina Mendoza collected the only two hits for South Alabama.
Florida State broke the scoreless tie with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Tiffani Brown reached on an infield single, driving in Tory Haddad who had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on an error earlier in the inning.
The Seminoles added another unearned run in the seventh. With one out, Morgan Bullock lined a single to right and advanced all the way to third when the ball got past Jag outfielder Haley Hopkins for a two-base error - USA's third of the contest. Bullock then came into score on a sacrifice fly from Carly Wynn.
The Jags will return to action this weekend when they host Florida International in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Jaguar Field. The first pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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).
-USA-
