USA vs. SIU box score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Four University of South Alabama home runs, five doubles, 14 RBI and 16 hits helped the Jaguars shut out Southern Illinois 16-0 Saturday afternoon in five innings of work at the Jacksonville State Invitational held at University Field.

“I can’t say enough about the job our hitters did,” Said USA head coach Becky Clark. “They knocked the starting pitcher out in the second inning, and then got to the next kid and knocked her out. They did a great job with that. They stayed balanced at the plate. They waited for something they could drive, and when they got it they put a good swing on it. We hit a couple of long balls today. That’s always exciting. Overall, it was a great day. You can’t ever complain after a game like that. It was a great day for us as a team.”

After the shutout, South Alabama evens its record at 3-3 on the year, while SIU drops to 4-2.

“That was a big when because Southern Illinois is a very good team,” Clark said. “They’re very well coached and that was a tough lineup that Hannah (Campbell) faced today. She didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning. She did a great job, giving us a chance on the mound.”

Sophomore Hannah Campbell (Satsuma, Ala.), who had six strikeouts and allowed only two hits in the contest, improved to 1-2 going the distance in the circle for the Jaguars  and throwing five complete without giving up a run. H. Campbell kept the Salukis hitless until the bottom of the fourth inning when SIU’s Haley Gorman singled to right field.

Southern Illinois’s starter, Alyssa Wunderlich, came out with her first loss of the season.
Following a scoreless first, the Jaguars recorded multiple-run innings to finish the game including a six-run second.
The Jags led off the second inning with a double to left by senior Christin Crocker (Pelham, Ala.). With two outs, Crocker, who was 3-for-4 with two runs, advanced to third when junior Meghan Collins (Slidell, La.) grounded out to second and then scored on a wild pitch putting USA on the board.

Junior Britany Campbell (Phoenix, Ariz.) showed her speed in the same inning reaching first off a bunt and then stealing second. Freshman Alyssa Linn (Kimberly, Ala), who now leads USA with a .545 batting average, hit a ball up the middle plating B. Campbell for the 2-0 South Alabama lead.

SIU then brought in Brittney Lang to try to slow the Jags’ offensive attack.
Freshman Blair Johnson (Kimberly, Ala.) then hit a double down the left field line. On a passed ball, Linn scored and Johnson advanced to third.

With junior Brittany Fowler (Jacksonville, Fla.) on first after a walk, senior Haley Hopkins (Gulf Shores, Ala.) hit a three-run homer to right center giving South Alabama the 6-0 advantage.
The Jaguars scored four more runs in the third and three more runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, for the dominating 16-0 win.

After a walk, a passed ball and a wild pitch senior Katy Neal (Pace, Fla.) was on third base in the third inning when the Salukis brought in Katie Bertelsen to toss the remainder of the game. Bertelsen walked Collins setting up B. Campbell’s three-run homer to left center. Linn followed with a single, and then advanced on another SIU wild pitch. Fowler hit a single up the middle to score Linn and give the Jags the 10-0 lead.

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Collins (1-for-3) hit a two-run homer over the center field fence scoring Crocker for the seventh and eighth runs of the game. B. Campbell, who has stolen all four bases attempted this season, reached after being hit by a pitch and stole second. Linn followed with a double plating B. Campbell.

In the fifth inning, South Alabama capped the victory with another three-run homer by freshman Alex Breeden (Melbourne, Fla.) – her first collegiate home run.

Immediately after the win, USA was scheduled to take on the host Gamecocks, but the game was rained out. If the weather allows, the game will be played tomorrow after USA plays Southern Illinois at 10 a.m.

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).