USA vs. ULM 3 box score

Game 3 photo gallery


MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama softball completed the sweep of Louisiana-Monroe Sunday afternoon at Jaguar field with a walk-off home run by junior Meghan Collins to run-rule the Warkhaws 9-1 in the sixth inning.

The Jaguars’ 3-0 showing this weekend marks the first time in program history that USA has opened Sun Belt Conference play by sweeping the series. South Alabama advanced to 14-6 (3-0 SBC), while Louisiana-Monroe dropped to 12-10 (0-3 SBC).

“The key was scoring early,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “We put those runs on the board early and kind of got them down, so that they would have to try to dig themselves out of a hole. We were trying to get the momentum on our side and the kids did a good job. When we do that, then we want to keep our foot on the gas and try to put pressure on them every inning. We did that. There wasn’t a time in the game when we were just sitting back letting them get back into it.

“Overall, all three of these games were great team wins. We’re getting production throughout the entire order. Not just the top of the order. The bottom of the order is contributing just like the top of the order. We had great pitching and great defense, and that usually helps you win.”

The Jags outhit the Warhawks 12-4 with eight USA student-athletes recording hits. Senior Haley Hopkins, juniors Meghan Collins and Brittany and freshman Blair Johnson each tallied two hits while seniors Katy Neal and Christin Crocker, sophomore Haley Richards and freshman Alyssa Linn notched a hit apiece.

Fowler led all Jaguar bats on the day going 2-for-2 with two runs, an RBI and two walks. Johnson and Collins each recorded a run and three RBI on the day.

In the bottom of the first, the Jaguars put up seven consecutive hits driving in four of USA’s nine runs. Linn led off the game with a single followed by a Johnson double which was enough to put South Alabama on the board. Fowler then nailed ULM pitcher Stephanie Routzon with a hard-hit line drive advancing Johnson to third before she stole second.

Collins then singled to left scoring Johnson, but tried to take second resulting the first USA out of the game. Crocker followed, with a single past the short stop plating Fowler for the 3-0 Jaguar advantage. Hopkins stepped up with another South Alabama hit scoring Crocker for the fourth and final run of the inning.

South Alabama tacked on another run with two outs in the second when Fowler singled to center field plating junior Britany Campbell who reached on a walk and stole second.

ULM tried to rally in the fifth scoring a run off of three hits. The Warhawks led off the inning with hits by Charlotte Pastor, Haley McCall and Mackenzie Miller who plated Pastor for the only Louisiana-Monroe run of the contest. Miyuki Navarrete followed with flied ball snagged by Hopkins in right field for the first out of the inning. McCall and Miller then stole second and third, respectively.

Fowler dashed the Wahawks’ hopes of making a comeback when Elena DiMattia popped up over the third baseman’s head and Fowler was able to snag the ball and turn the double play stepping on third and ending the inning.   

“There were a couple of times that they had runners on base and they had a chance to get something going,” said Clark. “We made some big defensive plays to shut them down. Brittany (Fowler) had a great day. That double play was an amazing play. Brittany just makes plays, offensively and defensively.”

Two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings would be enough to end the game in favor of the Jags.

In the bottom of the sixth with a full count and Fowler in scoring position, Collins hit her third home run of the season to stop play.

In the circle, sophomore southpaw Hannah Campbell went the distance for the Jaguars allowing only one hit and no runs until the Warhawks’ one-run, three-hit run in the fifth inning. Campbell improved to 7-5 while not walking a batter and striking out three.

“Hannah did a really good job of hanging in there and making pitches,” Clark said. “She got the outs when she needed to.”

Despite only two-thirds of the first inning, ULM’s Stephanie Routzon picked (3-6) up her second loss of the weekend.
On Wednesday at 4 p.m. USA will take on UAB before squaring off with Samford in Birmingham, Ala. on Thursday at the same time.

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).