Samford Box Score
Alabama State Box Score
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team posted ten home runs and allowed only four runs on day two of the Hibbett-Easton All-Alabama Softball Classic in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The Jaguars downed Samford, 10-3, in game one, and defeated Alabama State, 13-1, in game two.
South Alabama (4-0) is off to its best start in the programs history.
Meghan Collins and Brittany Fowler led the Jaguar Offense, each going 2-for-3 with two runs. Fowler also had two of the Jaguars' 10 RBI, along with Britany Campbell and Haley Hopkins who also tallied two RBI each. Hopkins and Christin Crocker each went 2-for-5 at the plate. Four players had two hits for the Jaguars while five had a hit as well.
“I felt like we were mentally dragging in the first game and we made some mistakes that we shouldn’t have,” Jaguar head coach Becky Clark said. “My message after our last game is that we have to be consistent every time out. I think that our pitchers and offense have done a good job this weekend. They have really fought hard and made the adjustments that we need.”
USA jumped out to an early lead as Hopkins hit her, third consecutive homer, with two outs in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Fowler it her first home run of the season in the top of the third to tie the game at 2-2. Freshman second baseman Haley Richards followed with a double to right center. With the bases loaded, Samford pitcher Kayla Burris walked Jenny Stevens scoring Meghan Collins, who walked to begin the inning.
Samford evened the score in the bottom of the second. Kayla Shaffer reached on an error to start the inning. The next two batters, Aaren Fisher and Robyn Harmon hit back-to-back doubles to drive in Shaffer.
The next two innings would remain scoreless for both teams.
The Jags took the lead in the top of the fifth. Center fielder Campbell doubled to right center to start the inning. Two batters later Crocker singled to right field driving in Campbell to give the Jags a 4-3 lead.
The Jags tacked on another run in the top of the sixth, when senior Jenny Stevens homered to center field.
The Jags broke the game open in top of the seventh with five runs on six hits. Crocker doubled down the left field line to start the inning. The next batter, Fowler singled to right and advanced to second on the throw, driving in Crocker. The next two batters, Katie Neal and Collins hit back-to-back singles driving in Fowler. Senior Carolina Mendoza hit an RBI-double to drive in Neal. The Jags tacked on three additional runs en route to a 10-3 victory over the Bulldogs.
Freshman pitcher Hannah Campbell (1-0) struck out seven and walked just one picking up her first career completegame win. The left-hander allowed only three runs, none of which were earned. Kayla Burris (0-1) took the loss for Bulldogs in 6.1 innings, giving up 10 runs on 12 hits. Nicole Bobrowski closed the game, after giving up one hit.
Against the Hornets, Crocker led the Jaguar offense with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, crossing the plate twice and driving in a pair. Stevens, Campbell, Hopkins and Collins all posted two hits for the Jaguars, while Julie Moss, Brittany Wynne and Neal also recorded one hit.
Morgan Druhan (2-0) earned her second complete-game win of the season, just missing her second career no-hitter by one.
In the top of the second Crocker launched a home run over the left center wall. Katy Neal hit her first collegiate homer down the right field line to give USA a 2-0 lead.
The Jaguars tacked on three runs on four hits in the top of the third, highlighted by Crocker’s homer over the centerfield wall - her second of the game.
The Hornets scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the third. With two outs and the bases loaded. Druhan walked Brittnei Price, who bunted to get on base earlier in the inning.
Collins hit a long ball over the right field fence to give the Jags a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth. One batter later, Stevens hit an RBI-homer to left center driving in Mendoza who singled earlier in the inning.
In the top of the fifth Wynne singled to left field and advanced to second on an error. Stevens and Campbell hit back-to-back two-RBI homers to right center to give the Jags 13-0 lead.
Sarah Levern (0-2) took the loss Alabama State in 4.2 innings.
South Alabama will close out the tournament tomorrow at 11 a.m. when they take on No. 3 Alabama.
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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