Mobile, Ala. - The University of South Alabama softball team continues Sun Belt Conference action when it hosts 19th ranked league-leader Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game series over the weekend at Jaguar Field.

The Jags and Cajuns are set for a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and a single-game at noon on Sunday.


USA is now 27-8 overall and 7-3 in conference play, after dropping a 2-0 decision to Troy Wednesday night at Jaguar Field. Sophomore pitcher Morgan Druhan (8-4) took the loss after going the distance in the circle. She struck out seven Troy batters and held the Trojans to only three hits. The Gulf Shores, native leads the team with 118 strikeouts in 83.2 innings of work.

Haley Hopkins and Brittany Fowler recorded the only two hits for the Jags.

“I think this is going to be a great series,” Jaguar head coach Becky Clark said. “They have a great club and I have a lot of respect for what they (ULL) do. I will put my team up against anybody at anytime and we love to be on the softball field playing good teams. I am really looking forward to this weekend.”

Fowler who is batting .412 through 35 games this season continues to pace the Jags at plate. She leads the team in RBI (44), hits (42) and slugging percentage (.706). In league play, she is batting .357 and has recorded 10 hits and 16 RBI. The Jacksonville, Fla., native has already tallied a season-high six home runs.

Jenny Stevens, Hopkins and Christin Crocker are all tied for the team-lead in home runs (7). Stevens has a program-high 17 home runs this season and Hopkins and Crocker trail close behind with 16.
 
 Hopkins is currently batting .414 in league games and has notched a team-leading 12 hits and 16 RBI. Through 35 games this season, Hopkins has recorded 28 runs, 36 hits and 31 RBI.

Steven’s has recorded a league-leading 24 stolen bases. She also holds the team-lead in runs (42) and walks (20).

Left-hander Hannah Campbell (12-3) is 5-0 in conference action and has struck out 31 batters in 33.2 innings of work.

The Ragin Cajuns (29-6, 7-2 SBC) enter the weekend after clinching their third SBC series of the season, splitting with Florida International 7-2, 2-3 on day one, and coming back to win 2-1 in the final game of the series. ULL is 16-1 when playing at Lansom Park, 3-1 in road games and 10-4 at neutral sites.

Louisiana-Lafayette has an 8-3 all-time series lead over the Jaguars. Last season, ULL swept the Jags in Lafayette, Louisiana. USA is 3-2 when facing ULL at home and 0-6 when playing at Lansom Park.

Offensively, ULL is led by Christi Orgeron  with a .453 batting average, 53 hits and 42 runs, including 14 homeruns and 11 doubles. Gabriel Bridges has also recorded 33 runs and 38 hits and is batting .432 on the season.

Ashley Brignac (16-3) leads the Ragin Cajuns in the circle with 133 strikeouts in118.1 innings of work.
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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