USA vs. NT 1 box score

USA vs. NT 2 box score

DENTON, Texas – The University of South Alabama softball team downed North Texas 3-1 in ten innings in game two of the Sun Belt Conference series-opening doubleheader Saturday after being edged by the Mean Green 2-1 in the first game of the day at Pioneer Field on the campus of Texas Woman’s University.

“Today was one of those days where everything isn’t clicking for you, but we still found a way to win,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “That’s always great, especially on the road and in conference. Tomorrow, we’ve got to do a better job at the plate, cut down on the strikeouts and put the ball in play more. We have to make the have to make defensive plays.”

The Jaguars are now 28-14 overall and 12-6 in conference play while the Mean Green holds a 20-23 record and is 10-9 in the SBC.

Game 2 – USA 3, North Texas 1

Junior Meghan Collins hit a two-run homer to in the top of the tenth inning to lift the Jags to a 3-1 victory over North Texas in game two of the doubleheader.

“Meghan (Collins) got the pitch that she could drive, kept her hands inside of it and was able to keep it fair,” Clark said. “That was big. The pitch was up and in on her and she was able to get inside of it enough to keep it fair.”   

Freshman Farish Beard got the start and threw 3.1 innings giving up four hits while striking out three batters. Senior Katy Neal got the win and improved to 6-3 on the year allowing only three hits and one run in 6.2 innings of work. North Texas’s Brittany Simmons got the start pitching eight innings and giving up three hits and a run. Ashley Kirk (8-10) took the loss after losing the lead in the final two innings of the game.  

“In the second game, our pitchers did a great job of keeping us in it,” said Clark. “Farish (Beard) started and Katy (Neal) came in and did a great job in relief. That was a huge performance on her part. They gave us a chance. This is a very good hitting ball club. For Katy to come in and only give up the one run was huge. That was the difference maker. She kept getting out of tough jams until we could get the hit and push one across.”

South Alabama jumped ahead to the early 1-0 lead with two outs in the top of the second when a Mean Green error allowed sophomore Julie Moss to get on and then advance to second. Freshman Alex Breeden hit a single up the middle to push Moss across before being thrown out at second ending the inning.

North Texas’s Maddelyn Fraley tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run over the center field fence with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After four scoreless innings, South Alabama took back the lead with a two-run homer to right field off the bat of Collins in the top of the tenth. With two outs in the inning, Kirk walked junior Brittany Fowler before Collins’ stepped up and knocked it out of the park. Senior Haley Hopkins followed with a single to left, but the inning ended before she could come home.

The South Alabama defense made the pair of runs stand up sitting down all three North Texas batters in the bottom of the tenth.

Game 1 – North Texas 2, USA 1

“In the first game, we were a little flat,” said Clark. “It took us a little while to get going. We left a lot of runners in scoring position in the first game and had a lot of opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of.”

Kirk improved to 8-9 with the win in game one while Simmons picked up the save. Sophomore Hannah Campbell tossed her 20th complete game of the season and took the loss dropping to 16-9 on the year. H. Campbell struck out six batters and walked two in six innings of work.

The Jaguars outhit the Mean Green 6-4, but could only push one run across. Freshman Blair Johnson led the way with three hits in four at-bats, but it was sophomore Haley Richards’ solo home run in the sixth that put South Alabama on the board. Junior Britany Campbell and freshman Alyssa Linn recorded the other two USA hits.

North Texas got on the board first in the bottom of the third after a double to right center by Megan Rupp plated Danielle Hoff who reached on an error by Jaguar shortstop Brittany Fowler and advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Lesley Hirsch.

The Mean Green added another run in the home half of the second inning. The Jags got two quick outs before H. Campbell hit Jordan Terry giving her first base. Hoff followed with a single to short before Hirsch hit one up the middle bringing Terry home for the 2-0 North Texas advantage.  

With one out in the top of the sixth, Richards hit a solo shot over the left field fence giving the Jags their first and only run of the game. Kirk then issued her fifth walk of the contest to B. Campbell before Linn singled to left field putting B. Campbell on second, but Johnson fouled out to the third baseman and Fowler flied out to center ending the inning before USA could score any more runs.

The Jags will take on the Mean Green in the rubber match Sunday at noon at Lovelace Field on North Texas’s campus.

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).