MTSU 3, USA 1
USA 8, MTSU 0

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The University of South Alabama softball team split its doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Middle Tennessee falling 3-1 in the opener, but led by Hannah Campbell's first career no-hitter helped the Jags pick up an 8-0 shutout victory in game two at Blue Raider Field. 

The no-hitter was the second of the season for the Jags and the fifth in program-history.

The Jags improved to 26-7 overall and 6-2 in Sun Belt action, while MTSU moved to 11-22 and 5-9 in conference play.

“Overall we didn’t play very well in the first game,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “We are a better team than how we played in the first game. We regrouped in between games and did what we needed to do to get the win in the second game.”

Despite taking the loss, sophomore pitcher Morgan Druhan (8-3) pitched well, striking out nine batters in the opener, holding MTSU to just three runs.  She also did not allow a hit through the first three innings.

Haley Richards led the Jags at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance. Meghan Collins and Haley Hopkins also each recorded one hit a piece. Collins scored the Jaguars only run of the contest.

Offensively, MTSU was led by Nina Davenport who recorded two hits and one run. Kelsey Woodruff, Kayla Toney and Kelsey Dortch all recorded hits for the Blue Raiders.

In bottom of the seventh, Woodruff broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out  two-run homer.  Druhan quickly struck out the first two MTSU batters she faced, but Davenport battled through 11 pitches and was able to reach on a bloop single to shallow right field. Her at-bat kept the Blue Raiders alive, and allowed Woodruff to hit the game-winning home run over the left centerfield wall.

MTSU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Druhan ran into some trouble walking Natlaie Ysasis and Corrie Able to start the inning. Kaycee Popham then grounded into a double play advancing Able to second. Toney stepped up and hit a RBI-single through the left side to bring Singleton, who had come into pinch run for Able.

The Jags answered right back in the top of the fifth. Collins started the rally when she hit a standup double to left field. Richards singled to left to put runners on the corners. The next batter, Jenny Stevens reached on a fielder’s choice as Collins beat the throw on a diving play at the plate. Jordyn Fisherback (7-8) - who was credited with the win - retired the final two batters of the inning.

USA had its chances in the game, stranding seven runners in the opener.  Fishback allowed just four hits, while striking out six.

The Jags bounced back quickly in the second game of the doubleheader.

“I thought that Hannah did a great job coming in and throwing strikes,” Clark said. “It’s a big accomplishment to no-hit a conference team. I thought we did a good job of putting pressure on them at the plate. Overall, it was a much better game.”

Campbell (10-3) – who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in her last start Wednesday night versus Southern Miss – surrendered a walk to the Blue Raiders in the bottom half of the first, but after that free pass, the the left-hander would go on to retire the next 20 MTSU batters.  In her seven innings of work, Campbell struck out eight and induced eight ground-ball outs.  MTSU was also unable to get a ball to the outfield against the Jaguar freshman.

Fowler and Hopkins led Jags at the plate with two hits apiece. They also both drove in two.
Brittney Banania was the only Middle Tennessee batter to reach base.

The Jags jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Stevens reached after being hit by a pitch to start the inning and wasted no time stealing second. Brittany Campbell then layed down a sac bunt and reached on an error by the third baseman. Hopkins tallied her 28th RBI of the season when she brought Stevens home on a squeeze bunt. Freshman Julie Moss singled to score B. Campbell and put South Alabama up 2-0.

USA was limited to one run in the top of the third thanks in part to the wind. Richards led off the inning when she dropped a double to shallow right field. Stevens then followed up with a shot that if not for the wind would have left the park. After advancing to third on a pass ball, Richards was driven in on Hopkins' single.

The Jags tacked on an unearned run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from B. Campbell that scored Katy Neal – who had singled to left earlier in the inning to give USA a four-run advantage.

In the top of the sixth, South Alabama added some insurance, scoring a pair of unearned runs.  With one out in the inning, Brittany Fowler doubled to right and then two batters later came around to score after Christin Crocker reached on a two-base throwing error – their fourth of the game – by Blue Raider third baseman Kristi Marquez.  Designated hitter Moss followed Crocker with the Jags' second double of the inning, this one also to right field that plated Crocker increasing the Jaguar lead to 6-0.

Fowler continued her hot hitting in the next half inning when the sophomore blasted a two-run homer to center, scoring Stevens – who had singled earlier in the frame – to put USA out in front 8-0.

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).

NOTES: The Jags remain tied 8-8 in the all-time series with Middle Tennessee. Fowler recorded her fourth home run of the season.  Campbell's no-hitter was the second of the season for the Jags and the fifth in program-history.

—USA—