Game 1 box score

Game 2 box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team swept Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana-Monroe Saturday at Jaguar Field to clinch its first conference series of the season.

"I thought we showed a lot of maturity in both games. They stayed in that first game and really battled, and, in the second game, when we got down two, it didn't faze them. We came back and put good swings on pitches that we should be swinging at and put balls in gaps," said USA head coach Becky Clark.

With the wins, the Jaguars improved to 13-6 overall (2-0 SBC) and extended their current win-streak to five games – the longest win-streak so far this year. The Warhawks fell to 12-9 and 0-2 in conference play.

As a team, USA is now batting .306 totaling 110 runs off of 154 hits so far in 2012. Sophomore Haley Richards led South Alabama at the plate going 5-for-6 with a .833 batting average on the day. Junior Britany Campbell was right behind Richards with two hits, including a double, in four at-bats and one run.

Game 1 – USA 2, ULM 1

Jaguar sophomore lefty Hannah Campbell (6-5) went the distance in the circle for the Jaguars tossing a career-high 14 strikeouts while allowing only one run in the pitchers’ duel.    

“Hannah was really good today,” Clark said. “She stepped up when we needed her to. When you’re starting conference, you want to get off on a high note and get some momentum going. This is a very good team. They battle and fight, and they really made her work today. She did a great job of hanging in there and getting better as she went.”

USA got on the board first in the third inning, but ULM was able to rally with a lead-off homer in the sixth by Janel Salanoa to hand the Jags their first extra-inning contest of the season in game one of the weekend series.

Despite being outhit by ULM 8-7, South Alabama was able to overcome Louisiana-Monroe in the ninth inning when B. Campbell beat out a bunt before advancing on a throwing error by Warhawk short stop Kayla Boening allowing USA pinch runner sophomore Julie Moss to score and ending the game in favor of the Jags, 2-1.

USA’s first run of the game came after a two-out double by junior Brittany Fowler down the right field line drove in freshman Alyssa Linn, who had reached on a walk by ULM pitcher Stephanie Routzon.

Routzon, who also pitched a complete game, picked up the loss and is now 3-5 on the season.

Game 2 – USA 7, ULM 2

South Alabama softball completed the Saturday sweep of ULM with a 7-2 victory over the Warhawks in game two clinching the series.

Louisiana-Monroe came out swinging, scoring two runs off of three hits while leaving one runner stranded in the first inning, but USA quickly answered with three runs in the bottom of the second.

Another three-run inning in the fifth and a run in the fourth would give the Jaguars the seven runs they needed to beat the Warhawks. In game two, the Jags outhit the Warhawks 9-5.

With one out in the second, senior Christin Crocker, who was 1-for-2 with one run and one RBI in the game, doubled the left putting her in scoring position. Richards drove Crocker home with a two-run homer over to left field fence tying the game 2-2.

"Haley Richards' home run was big; obviously it got us going. After that I thought it was great team offense with people getting on and being moved over."

In the same inning, Campbell beat out another bunt before stealing second, advancing to third on a throwing error and eventually scoring off of a wild pitch by Louisiana-Monroe pitcher Haylie Wilson giving South Alabama the 3-2 advantage.

After two outs and with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to center field plating Hopkins to extend the lead 4-2.

Freshman Blair Johnson led off the fifth inning with a single, followed by two more Jaguar hits by Fowler and fellow junior Meghan Collins to load the bases before Hopkins scored Johnson. A Crocker sacrifice fly ball and another Warhawk wild pitch would lead to the final two South Alabama runs of the game.

In the circle, Senior Katy Neal (4-1) did not give up a run and allowed only two hits and three base-runners in 6.1 innings of scoreless relief. Junior Jessica Dobson got the start, but was relieved by Neal after giving up two runs in the first inning.

South Alabama afforded Wilson (6-2) her second loss of the season after four innings of work.

“We’ve got to play hard tomorrow too because the guys play hard every single time out,” said Clark. “They don’t take an inning off. You’ve got to get out there and scrap with them. They’re a very good ball club. They don’t make too many mistakes and they fight at the plate. They made our pitchers work today.”

The Jags will wrap up the three-game series with the Warhawks Sunday at noon on Jaguar 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).