USA vs. Alcorn State box score

USA vs. LSU box score

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of South Alabama softball team blanked Alcorn State 8-0 in five innings before being edged by the hosts, LSU, 5-4 Saturday in the Tiger Invitational held at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.

Freshman Alyssa Linn started both games at the top of the lineup and led the Jaguars at the plate going 3-for-7 with two runs and two RBI on the day. Linn now holds a six-game hitting streak and a team-high .478 batting average. Senior Christin Crocker holds the No. 2 spot after recording two hits in four at-bats, one run and two RBI in the two-game stretch.

Game 1 - USA 8, Alcorn State 0

In the opening game of the tournament, Sophomore Haley Richards, who was 1-for-2 with one run and 3 RBI, hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the fifth inning driving in three runs and securing the Jags’ 8-0 shutout of Alcorn State.

The Jaguars took the early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first, but couldn’t connect in the second and third innings. However, a three-run fourth inning and a four-run fifth was enough to push USA past the Lady Braves. South Alabama outhit Alcorn State 7-4 on the day.

“It took us a little while to adjust to the pitching, but the kids did a good job of hanging in there,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “It’s always good when we score in the first inning, but it took us a little while in the second and third to make adjustments. Overall, we executed well, got our bunts and steals down, and, in the fourth and fifth, we were able to string some things together. We took advantage of some mistakes that they made and we went ahead and finished the game.”

Linn led the offensive charge with two hits in three at-bats, two runs and a .667 batting average against Alcorn State. Richards hit .300 in that game with one home run in two at-bats and three RBI.

Junior Jessica Dobson (1-0) went the distance in the circle and picked up her first win of the season against the Lady Braves while Alcorn State’s Melissa Rubio (2-3) was credited with the loss. Dobson now leads South Alabama with a 0.57 ERA.

“Jessica did a good job for five innings,” Clark said. “She worked ahead of the count most of the game and kept the hitters off balance.”

The Lady Braves’ Tabitha Bonnell relived Rubio after Linn led off the fifth inning with a single. Bonnell finished the game for Alcorn State.

Game 2 - LSU 5, USA 4

LSU came out swinging with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first inning, but South Alabama answered quickly matching the Tigers in the top of the second.

Senior Haley Hopkins (2-for-4, one run) led off the second with a single to left center followed by Crocker’s single to center field. Richards hit a sacrifice bunt, but reached on an error, and plated Hopkins for the first USA run of the game.

With runners on first and third, junior Meghan Collins singled through the right side driving Crocker home and advancing Richards to second. Junior Britany Campbell then hit another Jaguar sacrifice bunt putting runners at second and third.  Linn then singled to center field scoring Collins and Richards to tie the game at 4-4.

With two outs in the fourth inning, LSU’s Cassie Trosclair hit a double to the gap in left center plating Lauren Houston for the game-winning run.

The Jaguars will return to action Sunday on day two of the Tiger Invitational. USA will square off with McNeese State at 10 a.m. before their second meeting with LSU at 3 p.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).