USA vs. FIU game 1 box score

USA vs. FIU game 2 box score

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team dropped game one of the Sun Belt Conference series-opening doubleheader with Florida International 1-0 before downing the Panthers 2-0 in game two Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.

“Both of these teams have very good pitching staffs,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “FIU’s pitching staff has been through it this season. They know how to pitch these games and they’re not going to give you anything. From the offensive side, we knew they weren’t going to give us a whole lot so we had to fight for whatever we got. For us to come back in game two and scrap, claw, compete and pull out the win was huge.

“Hannah (Campbell) and Farish (Beard) had great days today. Hannah was a little unlucky early on. They glued some things in on her, and we didn’t push the run across for her, but she pitched extremely well. Farish stepped in and did a great job in game two until we could get the bats going.”

South Alabama now holds a 32-15 overall record and 14-7 mark in the SBC while FIU is now 25-24 on the year and 13-8 in league play. Sunday’s series finale will determine the second place spot in the Sun Belt standings which the Jags have held on to most of the season.

Game 2 – USA 2, FIU 0

The Jaguars recorded their 13th shutout of the season with runs in the fourth and sixth innings to top the Panthers 2-0 in game two of the doubleheader.

South Alabama freshman Farish Beard got her fifth win of the year and advanced to 5-3 with the win. Beard allowed only three hits in the game and recorded seven strikeouts in seven innings of work. FIU’s Jenn Gniadek fell to 7-10 after giving up five hits and both runs in five innings. Mariah Dawson tossed an inning of hitless relief after coming in with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, but the damage had already been done.

USA outhit FIU 5-3 with senior Christin Crocker, junior Meghan Collins and freshmen Blair Johnson, Alex Breeden and Kaitlyn Griffith each putting up a hit. However, it was a combination of aggressive base running and FIU mistakes that scored Crocker in the fourth and sophomore Julie Moss in the sixth.

In the bottom of the fourth, Crocker got things started with a single to the shortstop before stealing second. Breeden then grounded out to the second baseman moving Crocker to third. Following the second USA out of the inning, Gniadek issued a walk to junior Britany Campbell who also took second. Gniadek hit freshman Alyssa Linn to load the bases before issuing her second base on balls of the inning bringing Crocker home.

The Jags sealed the deal in the home half of the sixth when Moss, who was pinch running for Breeden, came home off a wild pitch with two outs and the bases loaded giving South Alabama to 2-0 advantage.

Game 1 – FIU 1, USA 0

FIU came out on top of the pitchers’ duel 1-0 after two singles and a double to open the game pushed across a run in game one of the series.

FIU’s Dawson (18-11) went the distance in the circle for the Panthers giving up only two hits while sitting down 10 Jaguars. South Alabama sophomore Hannah Campbell (16-10) took the loss after allowing three hits and a run in the first inning.

Junior Brittany Fowler and Crocker recorded the only two Jaguar hits of the game.

Panther third baseman Jessy Alfonso led off the first inning with a single to second base before an Alex Casals single to right moved Alfonso to third. Right fielder Ashley McClain then hit a double to left plating Alfonso for the first and only run of the contest.

The Jags will take on the Panthers in the rubber match Sunday at 11 a.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).