Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – No. 25 University of South Alabama softball has proved its ability this season to put runs on the board, most recently dismantling No. 12/13 LSU, 12-5, on Wednesday in its third 10-run-or-more game of the last four, but will the offensive foray endure this weekend against Western Kentucky, owners of one of the premier pitching staffs in the Sun Belt Conference?
 
Says the Magic 8-ball: Signs point to yes.
 
Winners in eight of their last nine affairs, the Jaguars (28-5, 5-1 SBC) are producing over seven runs per game across the aforementioned span since dropping consecutive contests to then-No. 9 UCLA and Utah earlier this month at the Long Beach State (Ca.) Invitational, a clear turning point in this historic campaign.
 
The Jags surpassed perennial offensive powerhouse ULL in total runs scored this week, topping the league charts with 196, which translates to nearly six runs per game. USA’s weekend opponent, the league’s second-ranked WKU Hilltoppers, (17-10, 6-2 SBC) has allowed only a whisker above three scores per contest this season.
 
Three SBC Pitcher-of-the-Week honors reside between WKU starting hurler Emily Rousseau and her southpaw counterpart, Mallorie Sulaski, the pair combining for 13 of 17 Lady Hilltopper victories this year. The tandem, which also includes 4-2 Janna Scheff, has held opponents to only 89 runs this year, second-fewest in the league behind USA (60).
 
Like the Jaguars, WKU took two of three from then-No. 15 ULL to clinch its SBC-opening series versus the Ragin’ Cajuns, only the Lady ‘Toppers did it in Louisiana, making its only two road victories count. After dropping the first contest 10-0, WKU battled back to take the final two, 12-2 and 3-2.
 
Rousseau, from Greenwood, La., won her second SBC weekly honor as she posted two wins against Louisiana at Lafayette after striking out a career-high 12 Bowling Green State batters a game before. The right-hander held opponents during the four-game span to a .164 batting average, while posting a 0.67 ERA in three appearances.
 
WKU went on to sweep Florida Atlantic and split with North Texas in Bowling Green, moving to 6-2 in league play. Sulaskie was awarded the conference’s weekly pitching honor after the senior lefty shut out FAU.
 
“[Rousseau] throws hard and she competes,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “She’s somebody that’s going to step on the mound and give her team a chance to win. We’ve just got to be ready for her and the rest of the staff. [Sulaski], the lefty they throw is also a competitor.
 
“They’re going to give us all we can handle,” Clark added. “We’ve got to do a great job of keeping things rolling right now. We’ve got to remain consistent and remember what got us results in the first place. We can enjoy the success we’ve had, but we’ve got to remember where it came from and stay locked in to it.”

First pitch for Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 4 p.m., with game two beginning approximately 20 minutes after. Sunday’s game three will begin at noon.  Live streaming will be available through the All-Access section found by visiting USAJaguars.com. Live stats for all South Alabama softball games are available through the multimedia section at USAJaguars.com.
 
USA Athletic Marketing has announced the “Chill Yogurt Kids Run the Bases” promotion, in which all children 12-and-under can circle the diamond at Jaguar Field between games one and two.
 
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).