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MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team was dog against Ole Miss and pony versus Lamar on Saturday, displaying a range of ability in both games to sweep its second day of competition at the Mardi Gras Invitational.

A rigid USA defense impeded numerous Rebel scoring opportunities in the hosts’ former matchup, as the Jags put away Mississippi, 4-2, in the afternoon, and, in the nightcap, South Alabama took only five innings to blank the Cardinals, 8-0, outhitting the opposition 10-2 for a perfect 3-0 tournament record.

USA is now 6-1 on the year and will conclude its home tourney with another doubleheader tomorrow, taking on Central Arkansas (12:15 p.m.) and Jackson State (2:30 p.m.). The Jags handed UCA an 11-2 run-rule defeat on Friday. JSU won both its games on Saturday, defeating the Bears (2-1) and Lamar (14-4).

USA 4, Ole Miss 2
A red, white and shivering crowd of 1,019 packed the stands of Jaguar Field to see USA go up by four runs against Ole Miss before the Rebels’ Brianna Payne sent a Farish Beard pitch high into the gusty sky and over right center, and, after RT Cantillo singled and stole second, Allison Brown plated UM’s second and final run with a double to left.

Hannah Campbell entered the circle for USA after Cantillo scored on the double, and the Satsuma, Ala., native struck out four of the next eight Rebel batters to end the game.

USA scored two runs each in the second and fourth innings to secure the victory. In the former, consecutive singles by Julie Moss and Britany Campbell brought designated player Blair Johnson to the plate with two outs. The sophomore doubled to right center, scoring both runners for an early home advantage.

In the fourth, Moss blasted a solo shot over the center field wall for her first homer of the year and career fourth. Freshman Stephanie Pilkington then hit her first career homer an out later for USA’s third and fourth runs.

Moss, Pilkington and Johnson each had multiple hits in the game. Third baseman Haley Fagan and shortstop Brittany Fowler combined for 10 assists during the game, converting a barrage of ground balls into outs.

Beard gave up two earned runs, while striking out four in 4.2 innings pitched. Moving to 3-0 on the season, she now owns a 1.53 ERA through 18.1 total innings. H. Campbell recorded her first save of the year and dropped her ERA to 0.76. Opponents are batting .127 against her.

“I thought our defense was the strong point against Ole Miss,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “The plays we made on the left side were big, between Fowler and Fagan. Farish and Hannah combined to give us a great effort in the circle. They threw strikes and the defense backed them up.”

USA 8, Lamar 0 (5 inn.)
In its third mercy rule victory of the season, the Jaguars displayed a mix of strength and athleticism, as well as depth, with pitchers Jessica Dobson and Kaleigh Floore – a collective with only 3.1 innings pitched this season total – combined to hold the Cardinals scoreless, the visitors tallying a mere two hits and zero walks.

USA scored in all five innings of the game, starting with a two-run opening frame after Emily Messer singled up the middle and stole second, scoring when Fowler hit a single to center. After LU starter Shannon Millman threw a wild pitch, a passed ball brought Fowler home for a 2-0 Jaguar lead.

Messer recorded her second hit of the game an inning later when she ripped an RBI triple to right field, sending Moss, who doubled and stole third, home for a 3-0 margin. Meghan Collins and Fagan hit a double and single, respectively, in the third, with the former reaching home plate on the latter’s hit to extend the lead to 4-0.

Fowler sent a two-run homer screaming over the right field wall in the fourth frame to make it 6-0 before B. Campbell hit an RBI single up the middle and Collins, who walked earlier, scored on a Lamar throwing error to hit the maximum allowed in five innings by rule.

Messer, Fowler and B. Campbell each went 2-for-3 in the second game, combining for four runs scored. Collins had a hit, two runs and two bases on balls. Dobson earned the win to move to 1-0.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).