Box Score

Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – Highlighted by a six-run fifth inning and six Farish Beard strikeouts, University of South Alabama softball defeated its eighth opponent of the year by way of run-rule on Wednesday after shutting out Nicholls State, 8-0, in six innings at Jaguar Field.
 
Kaitlyn Griffith hit a three-run homer to straightaway center in the bottom of the fifth frame, before triples by Britany Campbell and Brittany Fowler scored another pair of runs. An inning later, USA added the final two to the tally when Alex Breeden scored from second on a Colonel error and a wild pitch scored pinch-runner B. Campbell from third.
 
The Jaguars move to 18-2 on the year, while Nicholls State falls to 7-11. Beard’s record improved to a flawless 8-0 and her ERA dropped to 1.24. Colonel starter Katie Moulder fell to 0-3 with the loss.
 
Having already defeated the Colonels, 7-1, in Thibodaux, La. on Feb. 20, USA is now 8-5 versus Nicholls State all-time.
 
Neither team showed an offensive spark until Kaitlyn Griffith registered an infield single in the bottom of the third for the first hit of the game; however, the Colonels turned a hard Emily Messer hit to the middle of the field into two outs, as NSU center fielder Danielle Phillips made a diving catch to oust Messer and fired to second, catching Griffith on her return to snub the chance.
 
Phillips then doubled to right center a half-inning later, but Beard answered with a strike out of NSU catcher Maggie Bryan.
 
After an uneventful fourth, Julie Moss started the home rally with an infield single, and Haley Fagan laid down a bunt to reach on the fielder’s choice. Breeden sacrificed herself with a bunt, moving both runners up a plate, before Griffith blasted a full-count pitch to center field proper, scoring three Jaguar runs wither second knock in three games.
 
B. Campbell tripled to left center immediately after and was scored by Messer, who also tripled down the right field line. Hannah haydel was brought in to pitch for the Colonels, but two more Jag runs scored before the frame finished. Haydel’s first project, Blair Johnson, reached on an infield error that allowed Messer to score, and Fowler brought her home with another triple to make it 6-0 after five innings.
 
The visitors managed a hit in the top of the sixth, but two more USA runs in the bottom of the same frame put the mercy rule into effect.
 
USA is now 6-0 at home and will carry a five-game win streak to California this weekend, where it is scheduled for five games at the Long Beach State Invitational, hosted by the 49ers, in its final regular-season tournament of the season. The Jags have accumulated a 5-1 away record and 6-1 neutral count.
 
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).