USA vs. MTSU game 3 box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team put up three runs in the first, four runs in the second and one run in the fourth to complete the Sun Belt Conference series sweep of Middle Tennessee with an 8-0 win in five innings Sunday afternoon at Jaguar Field.

With the win, USA extends its current win streak to five games and improves to 23-9 overall and 11-2 in conference play. The Blue Raiders fall to 12-18 on the year and 2-7 in the SBC.

“Yesterday after the game, we talked about the fact that we got the wins, but we could’ve played better and not put ourselves in the position to have to come out and score late to win a game,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “Our goal today was to come out and put runs up early. They did a great job of that, scoring seven runs in two innings. When you beat a team in the first two games, you’ve got to come out in that third game and keep your foot on them. You can’t give them a reason to get back up. The kids did a good job of that. They scored early and took the win themselves so that we could finish on a high note today.”

South Alabama outhit MTSU 7-1 on the afternoon. Junior Brittany Fowler led all Jaguar bats going 2-for-2 with two runs, one RBI and a walk. Seniors Katy Neal and Christin Crocker, junior Meghan Collins and sophomore Julie Moss added a hit apiece.

The Jaguars came out swinging in the bottom of the first scoring three runs off of two hits and left one stranded. After striking out USA freshman Alyssa Linn, MTSU starting pitcher Jordyn Fisherback hit freshman Blair Johnson and walked Fowler putting Johnson in scoring position. Fisherback then struck out Collins swinging for the second out of the inning. Crocker followed with a two-run triple to left field plating Johnson and Fowler. Moss then stepped up and singled through the left side scoring Crocker and giving the Jags the 3-0 advantage.

South Alabama extended the lead to seven adding four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Fisherback walked Griffith to open the inning, but was relieved by Caty Jutson thereafter.

After throwing two balls to junior Britany Campbell, Jutson hit USA’s center fielder giving her the base and advancing Griffith to second. Linn loaded the bases when she reached on a fielder’s choice after Middle Tennessee could not make a play on her sacrifice bunt. Griffith was pushed home when Johnson hit a sacrifice fly ball to left field giving South Alabama the 4-0 lead.

With one out, B. Campbell on third and Linn on second, Fowler hit her eighth double of the season scoring B. Campbell and putting Linn on third. A two-run Collins single through the left side followed putting the Jags on top 7-0 after two innings.

Neal sealed the deal with a lead-off solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth giving South Alabama the 8-0 advantage. The Jags then retired the side in the top of the fifth to run-rule the Blue Raiders and end the game.

Sophomore left-hander Hannah Campbell (14-6) picked up her 14th win of the year after allowing only one hit and striking out seven batters in five innings of work while MTSU’s Fisherback (1-4) took the loss.

Fisherback gave up two hits and four runs after tossing one inning, Jutson allowed four hits and four runs in two innings of work and Shelby Stinnett only allowed one hit after relieving Jutson in the fourth inning.

On April 3, USA will host Nicholls in the Jaguars’ second meeting with the Colonels this season at 5 p.m. at 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).