USA 4, UNT 2
MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team split its doubleheader against Sun Belt Conference opponent North Texas Friday afternoon at Jaguar Field. The Jags fell 5-3 in game one, but came back to win 4-2 in the final game of the series.
South Alabama moves to 32-13 overall and 11-8 SBC action with the win, while UNT drops to 32-13 and 6-15 in league play.
“It’s always good to win a conference series,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “North Texas is a lot better team than what their record indicates, so this was a big series win for us. They have a really powerful offense that can break open at anytime so it was huge success for us to with the series.”
Junior Lindsay Croft (7-2) took the loss in the opener for the Jags after pitching two innings of relief, as she walked one and gave up three runs – only one of which was earned. Jaguar starter Morgan Druhan went five innings in the circle allowing six hits and two runs ¬– one earned. The sophomore left-hander walked only two and struck out six.
UNT starter Ashley Kirk (9-14) was credited with the win after going the distance in the circle, striking out six, while walking four and allowing three runs.
Haley Hopkins, Christin Crocker, Katy Neal and Meghan Collins all recorded one hit apiece for the Jaguars. Hopkins, Neal, and Collins each drove in a run apiece.
Megan Rupp, Mariza Martinez and Renae Bromley paced North Texas at the plate with two hits apiece while, Mallory Cantler added two RBI.
USA took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Collins doubled off the top of the right field wall to score Crocker, who drew a walk to begin the inning.
North Texas threatened to score in the top of the third. Brooke Foster drew a walk and Rupp reached after an infield single, but Druhan was able to force the final two outs of the inning to get out of the jam.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Jags scored two runs on three hits. Hopkins blasted a homer to the deepest part of the park to start the inning. Crocker then singled through the right side and stole second, before coming home on a RBI single to right from Neal to increase South Alabama’s lead to 3-0.
The Mean Green cut the USA lead to 3-2 with single runs in the fifth and the sixth. In the top of the fifth, Bromley doubled to left to start the inning and with two outs, Rupp dropped a single into shallow center field to score Bromley. UNT tacked on one run in the top of the sixth on a lead-off homer from Martinez to left center.
UNT rallied to take the game in the seventh. Bromley singled through the right side – her second hit of the game – and then advanced to second on Lesley Hirsch’s sac bunt. With two outs, Bradshaw reached on a fielding error by Jenny Stevens that allowed Bromley to score and kept the inning alive. Cantler then lined a two-run homer to right center to plate Bradshaw and give the Mean Green a 5-3 advantage.
South Alabama was unable to answer in the bottom half of the inning.
In game two, it was a pitcher’s duel through the first four innings of play.
Left-hander Hannah Campbell (16-5) earned the win after recording her 17th complete game this season. The Satsuma native struck out four Mean Green batters in the win and game up five hits, while allowing just two runs and two walks.
UNT starter Brittany Simmons (10-13) took the loss in six innings of work, allowing five hits and four runs, while walking six.
Hopkins, Crocker, Mendoza, Neal and B. Campbell all recorded one hit apiece for the Jags, while Neal drove in two for the Jaguars. Hopkins and B. Campbell also had an RBI for USA.
Lisa Johnson led the UNT offense with a 1-for-3 performance – a two-run home run in the seventh.
After five scoreless innings the Jaguar bats exploded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Hopkins singled to the short stop to drive in Richards, who had walked to begin the inning. The next batter, Crocker then reached on fielder’s choice and Mendoza then singled and advanced to second on the throw to place both runners in scoring position. Neal then stepped up to the plate and dropped in a two-run double just out of the reach of a sliding effort from Martinez in left to score Mendoza and Crocker. B. Campbell then dropped a single into shallow right field to score Brittany Wynne, who pinch ran for Neal.
