MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team will hit the road to take on Southern Miss in a mid-week match up at 5 p.m. in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The Jaguars (4-1) enter the contest after playing five games in three days at the Hibbett-Easton All-Alabama Softball Classic in Vestavia Hill, Ala. USA is off to its best start in the programs history, shutting out Alabama A&M, 15-0, and coming from behind to beat UAB, 4-2 on Friday. The Jaguars continued their success on Saturday defeating Samford, 10-3, in the opener, followed by a, 13-1, victory over Alabama State in the night cap. On Sunday, No. 3 Alabama handed the Jags their first loss.

Junior third baseman Christin Crocker leads the Jaguar offense in batting average (.611), hits (11), total bases (24), on-bases percentage (.632) and is tied for first in runs (6), doubles (1) and home runs (4). The Pelham, Ala., native leads the Sun Belt Conference in hits (11) and is ranked in the top five in batting average (.611), total bases (24), slugging percentage (1.333) and home runs (4).

Haley Hopkins has a team-leading 19 at-bats, 9 RBI, and is tied for first in home runs (4). She ranks in the top five in the SBC in total bases (18), at bats (19), RBI (9) and home runs (4).

Senior short stop Jenny Stevens finished the weekend with six runs and six hits, three of which were home runs, and a .462 batting average. She ranks in the top five in the conference in total bases (17), slugging percentage (1.308), triples (1) and home runs (3).

Crocker and Stevens recorded a hit in all five games last weekend, while Hopkins has recorded four multi RBI-games.

USA has eight batters hitting over .300.

Pitchers Hannah Campbell, Morgan Druhan and Lindsey Croft all saw action over the weekend. Campbell (1-1) went 13.2 innings in the circle with 13 strikeouts and Druhan (2-0) had 25 strikeouts in 12.2 innings of work, while Croft picked up her first collegiate win as a Jaguar.

Last season, the Jags defeated the Eagles 5-3 at Jaguar Field giving the Jags a 5-2-1 all-time series lead. Druhan earned her first collegiate win as a Jaguar in 3.1 innings. She allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two Southern Miss batters. Beth Pilgrim was credited with the save after pitching three innings.

Offensively, USM has six batters hitting over .300, leading the way is Brittany Lilly with a .667 average, Britany Dinelt with a .444 average and Christin Roosemalen with a .444 average.

Beth Dietrich and Courtney Ramos are leading the Eagle pitching staff. Dietrich (1-1) has allowed 10 hits in 10 innings of work while striking out seven and Ramos (1-1) has allowed 10 hits in 8.2 innings pitched while striking out five.  
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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