USA 8, SELU 1

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team downed Southeastern Louisiana 8-1 Friday afternoon on day one of the Jacksonville State Invitational held at University Field.

With the win, USA improves to 2-3 on the season while SLEU falls to 1-5 so far this year. The Jaguars outhit the Lady Lions 11-3 on the afternoon – a season high for South Alabama.

“Today was a good team win,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “Katy Neal and Jessica Dobson did a great job in the circle throwing strikes and keeping the hitters off balance. We were more aggressive on the bases today. At the plate, the girls did a good job of locking in and driving the ball. It was a good day for us. We took a step forward and got back to who we are as a team.”

South Alabama senior Katy Neal (Pace, Fla.) picked up the win bringing her to 2-0 on the season, while junior Jessica Dobson (DeMotte, Ind.) got the Jags’ first save of the year after tossing three innings of scoreless relief. The Lady Lions’ Kenna Terry (0-3) recorded her third loss of the season.

In the bottom of the first, freshman Alyssa Linn reached first base on a second base error, followed by freshman Blair Johnson’s single to center. After the pair stole second and third, respectively, senior Haley Hopkins (Gulf Shores, Ala.), who had two hits, one run and three RBI on the afternoon, hit a home run over the left field fence – the Jaguars’ third of the season – plating Linn and Johnson to give the Jaguars the early 3-0 lead.

The next inning, sophomore Haley Richards (Fayetteville, Ga.) singled to center field to start the second. Junior Meghan Collins (Slidell, La.) followed, knocking a single to the same spot and advancing Richards. Junior Britany Campbell (Phoenix, Ariz.) then hit a sacrifice bunt putting runners on third and second. With one out, Linn, who was 1-for-4 with one run, hit it over the third baseman’s head reaching on a fielder’s choice and scoring Richards for her lone RBI of the day.  

The Lady Lions got their only run of the contest of a home run to center field by Meghan Gomez in the top of the fourth.
USA answered in the bottom of the inning when Collins (2-for-3 with one run) hit a double down the right field line. She stole third and scored on a muffed throw by third baseman Trish Bliss giving South Alabama the 5-1 advantage.

Two of the last three USA runs were the result of a two-run Richards homer to left center in the bottom of the sixth.
With two outs, freshman Kaitlyn Griffith (Centre, Ala.) and Linn singled followed by Johnson’s hit to center field which scored Campbell, who came in to pinch run for Griffith, for the Jags’ final run of the game.

USA is slated to play two games tomorrow. The Jaguars will take on Southern Illinois at 12:30 p.m. and Jacksonville State at 3 p.m. at University Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).