USA vs. Samford box score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Samford used a five-run fifth inning to snap the University of South Alabama softball team’s seven-game win streak Thursday afternoon at Bulldog Field with a 5-3 win over the Jaguars.

“I thought we played hard, but things didn’t go our way,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “We didn’t get hits when we needed them. I have to give it to Samford. They played hard and did what they needed to do to win the game.”

With the loss, South Alabama fell to 15-7 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt Conference, while Samford advanced to 5-17 on the season.

The Jags held the 1-0 lead for an inning and a half after scoring in the top of the third, and outhit the Bulldogs 6-5, but couldn’t make the run stand up as Samford hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth to score five.

Junior short stop Brittany Fowler led the Jaguars at the plate with two hits in four at-bats and two RBI.

After being hit by a pitch and stealing second in the top of the third, junior center fielder Britany Campbell moved to third when freshman left fielder Alyssa Linn laid down a sacrifice bunt in front of home plate. Campbell put the Jags on the board after a hit by freshman designated player Blair Johnson drove her home with a hard-hit single that was deflected of Samford pitcher Misha Aldridge’s glove.

The Bulldogs tried to make a run at the Jags in the bottom of the fourth when Aldridge led off with a single to shallow center field. Junior Madeline Baker came in to pinch run. With Baker on first, center fielder Kayla Shaffer dropped a hit to shallow left, but South Alabama was able to catch Baker advancing to third.

The next Bulldog batter, Shelby Scott, lined a shot to Jaguar third baseman Christin Crocker who then turned the double play off Shaffer ending the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of fifth, Samford rallied taking the lead with back-to-back home runs by catcher Madison Dickey and Aldridge.

In the top of the second, Campbell beat a bunt, freshman left fielder Alyssa Linn singled up the middle and Fowler hit a two-out double plating Lin and Campbell, but Senior Haley Hopkins grounded out to the short stop to end the game.     
Aldridge (3-9) was the pitcher of record for the Bulldogs picking up the win, while Senior Katy Neal (4-2) was credited with the loss.

USA will take on Western Kentucky Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon in a three-game conference series at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green, Ky.  

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).