USA 11, WKU 3 Box
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team completed its weekend sweep of Sun Belt Conference foe Western Kentucky Sunday afternoon with a six-inning 11-3 victory over the Lady Toppers at Jaguar Field.
The SBC sweep for the Jaguars (23-5, 5-1) was just the third for the program in its brief history. USA recorded a three-game sweep of Troy last season and one over Louisiana-Monroe during the 2007 campaign.
Freshman pitcher Hannah Campbell (9-3) earned the win after going four innings in the circle. The Satsuma, Ala., native struck out three and allowed three runs. Morgan Druhan came in for two innings of relief work and allowed just one hit.
WKU (15-11, 0-3) starter Mallorie Sullaski took the loss dropping to 6-4 on the season. Dana Nathanson, Brittanie Albright and Kim Wagner all came in for relief for the Lady Toppers.
Jenny Stevens, Britany Campbell and Katy Neal led the Jags at the plate with two hits apiece. Neal also chipped in with three runs driven in, while Stevens and Meghan Collins also added two RBIs of their own.
Kelsie Mattox and Ciara Garcia each added two hits for the Lady Toppers in the loss.
“I thought that we were extremely aggressive today,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “Our defensive was really good and we are taking care of the ball. The pitchers played well and threw strikes when we needed them to. This time of year you want to be clicking on all cylinders and I thought today and yesterday we had everything going for us.”
The Jags jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Stevens led off with a single and the senior then stole second. Campbell followed with a bunt single, advancing Stevens to third and then stole second herself. Fowler worked out a walked to load the bases and the next batter, Haley Hopkins, reached on a fielder’s choice plating Stevens. Moss followed with a doubled down the right field line driving in Fowler. Neal then stepped to the plate and lined a RBI-double of her own down the right field line to bring in Moss and Hopkins.
WKU rallied in the top of the third, scoring three runs on four hits. The Lady Toppers were able do all their damage with two outs in the inning. Brittney Perry and Mattox recorded back-to-back doubles and Garcia then pulled Western Kentucky to within one when the designated player drove a ball over the center field wall to trim the deficit to 4-3.
The Jags answered right back in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. Neal hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Hopkins who walked to begin the inning. Collins then doubled down the left field line plating Christin Crocker. Haley Richards capped off the scoring with a single through the right side of the infield and advanced to second on an error, to score Collins and put USA up 7-3.
South Alabama padded its lead in the bottom of the fifth scoring two runs on Stevens’ double down the right field line ¬– the Jags fourth of the game.
USA ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with its second-straight two-run inning. Campbell and Fowler both reached to begin the inning and then moved in to scoring position on Lady Topper passed ball. KameeVessey drove in Campbell with a fielder’s choice and then the Jags captured the victory on Crockers’ sacrifice fly to center.
South Alabama returns to action Wednesday night against its third Southeastern Conference opponent of the season Auburn. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. 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).
—USA—
NOTES: The Jags moved to 6-8 all-time against WKU … That is the first time Jags have swept Western Kentucky in a three-game series … The 5-1 start is the best start in league play in the program’s history … The eight-run wins is the Jags ninth run rule game for the Jags this season and the third straight.
