Bulldog Kickoff Classic Information

Game Notes

Media Guide

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball program will travel to Starkville, Miss., on Thursday to begin its 2013 campaign at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic, where it will play five games in four days at the Mississippi State Softball Complex.
 
USA will open the tournament with an evening matchup versus the host-Bulldogs before facing Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Tennessee State on Friday evening. On Saturday, the Jags will battle Tennessee State before a Sunday rematch versus MSU to wrap up the event.
 
USA returns 12 letterwinners from a 2012 squad that claimed the program’s first SBC Tournament title, thus earning its premier NCAA postseason berth. The Jaguars defeated SBC regular-season champions, Louisiana at Lafayette, for the league finale gold before falling to eventual-national champions, Alabama, in the regional finals in Tuscaloosa.
 
South Alabama posted a program-best 41-17 mark, including a 17-7 league tally, to finish behind five-time-defending SBC victor Louisiana at Lafayette in the regular season before upsetting the Ragin’ Cajuns in Boca Raton, Fla., site of the 2012 conference tournament.
 
The Lady Jags return four pitchers from last year's team and welcome four newcomers. Among those making a return this season are three Sun Belt Conference preseason all-conference picks - junior pitcher Hannah Campbell, sophomore outfielder Blair Johnson and senior at-large selection Britany Campbell.
 
“Last year was a huge step forward for our program, and we look forward to the challenges of 2013,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “Our main goal this year is to stay focused and compete each and every time we step between the lines. I give our student-athletes a tremendous amount of credit for the job they do day in and day out. Their work ethic and professionalism is impressive and one of our biggest strengths.”
 
HITTING
All-SBC selection Brittany Fowler will once again lead the Jaguar offense this year as one of the most powerful and diverse hitters in the league. Fowler led USA with a .341 batting average, recording 57 hits, seven home runs, 40 RBI, 96 total bases and a .575 slugging percentage, while only striking out 15 times in 209 plate appearances. Fowler finished among the league’s top 10 in 12 offensive categories.
 
Senior Meghan Collins led the team in home runs last year with nine, the second-highest single-season tally in program history. Collins also batted .323 with 51 hits and 39 RBI, while also drawing 31 walks. 
Sophomores Alyssa Linn and Blair Johnson exploded onto the scene last season with invaluable production at the plate, with the former leading the team in runs (45) and the latter earning all-SBC honors after tying Fowler for most hits on the squad (57). The Kimberly, Ala., duo combined with Fowler to lead the team in triples (2), and Johnson tied Fowler in doubles (14).
 
"We return a lot of experience to our lineup this year and have added some great young bats as well," Clark stated. "We will have a little more speed to work with this year ,and I anticipate another exciting offense that is capable of big innings and putting pressure on opposing defenses."
 
Catchers
Sophomore Alex Breeden made 40 starts behind the plate last season, starting as designated hitter five times before cementing her spot behind the dish. Breeden also batted .229 with 25 hits and 15 RBI.
 
Freshmen Clara Bowen and Stephanie Pilkington could also see time behind the plate.
 
Infield
Fowler is expected to return at shortstop this season after making 56 starts at the position last season. Collins started every 2012 game at first base and is expected to do the same in 2013, with sophomore Johnson listed as a capable replacement at first and third. Johnson started six games at third last year in the absence of Christin Crocker, who played the position for a majority of her USA tenure. Emily Messer and Haley Fagan, however, are slated to battle for the starting on the hot corner, as 50 of Johnson’s 57 starts last year were either in right field or as designated hitter.
 
Kaitlyn Griffith and Julie Moss are both possibilities at second this year, with the former serving as backup to Fowler at shortstop and Moss, an outfield option. 
 
­­­Outfield
Senior Britany Campbell will anchor the Jaguar outfield this year after completing a flawless effort in center field in 2012. Campbell started all 58 games at the position, committing no errors for a 1.000 fielding percentage. The Phoenix, Ariz., native also led the squad in stolen bases with 24 on 27 attempts, second-best in the conference.
 
Linn was the preference in left field last season, where she made 55 starts. Pilkington and Messer will also be options in left, as both garnered valuable experience at the position in fall exhibitions.
 
The majority of Johnson’s starts last season (27) were in right field, with Moss also appearing at the position several times.
 
"Every year, our goal is to have a fundamentally sound defense," Clark said. "We stress the simple things like catching and throwing and making the other team beat you. We were successful with this last year, as we finished the season ranked number-one in the Sun Belt in team defense, and I anticipate another solid performance from them this year. Based on what I have seen in practice so far, I think our defense will be one of our biggest assets."
 
PITCHING

The Jaguar pitching staff registered an NCAA top-25 ERA (1.91) in 2012, allowing only 106 earned runs in 388 innings.
 
Sophomore Farish Beard and Campbell both finished top 10 in Sun Belt ERA, with the former carding a 0.97 and the latter, a 2.03. Beard went 7-2 on the year with 77 strikeouts in only 58 innings, while Campbell, the 2012 SBC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, posted 24 wins (T-38th in NCAA) with 199 strikeouts in 224 1/3 innings pitched. The National Fastpitch Coaches' Association All-Region and second-team all-SBC selection threw a league-leading 28 complete games and recorded four saves (14th in NCAA).
 
Senior Jessica Dobson and sophomore Kaleigh Floore return to bolster the USA circle, after Dobson went 3-0 in 10 appearances last year, striking out 25 in 32 innings pitched. Floore appeared twice last season and gave up no hits or runs.
 
"One of the advantages we have this year is returning a pitching staff with a tremendous amount of big game experience," Clark said. "As an athlete, the only way to truly understand how to work through pressure situations is to be in those situations. Our pitchers had opportunities last year to work through some of the best lineups in the nation and to do it on a very visible stage. The experience that they gained from those games is invaluable, and I think will be a huge help in the years to come."
 
Clark is entering her seventh season as head coach at South Alabama. She carries a 184-140-1 record at the school into Thursday's game. She holds a career record of 340-173-3 in 18 seasons.
 
Results from the Bulldog Kickoff Classic will be posted to the Jaguar athletics website immediately following each game. Live stats can be found via the tournament information link listed above.
 
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).