Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GULFPORT, Miss. – Farish Beard and Hannah Campbell got a win apiece, and Chloe Rathburn and Emily Messer supplied two RBI each to propel No. 14 University of South Alabama softball to wins over Ohio and Nicholls State on Friday, the first day of competition at the first-annual Gulf Coast Softball Classic at Gulfport Sportsplex in Gulfport, Miss.

The win over Ohio marked the 400th for USA head coach Becky Clark's career.
 
The Jaguars, now 13-1 on the year will face UT-San Antonio on Saturday at 2 p.m. before a top-15 clash with No. 12 Baylor at 8 p.m. in the nightcap. Live stats can be found via the softball schedule page, as well as a link to play-by-play Jaguar All-Access audio, provided by Braden Cheek.
 
Beard moved to 7-1 on the year after striking out 12 Ohio batters to one walk in USA's 3-0 win over the Bobcats Friday afternoon, while Campbell moved to 4-0 with her nine strikeouts to no walks in a 2-1 victory over the Colonels. Each pitcher allowed only a single hit apiece, as the Jaguars outhit their opponents, 10-2, on the day.
 
Rathburn, a freshman of Mission Viejo, Calif., batted .500 (3-for-6) on the day with two RBI and a solo homer that gave USA a lead in the first game. Messer's two RBI extended USA's lead against Ohio when her towering slice was lost in the sunlight by Bobcat right fielder Adrienne Gebele, falling to the turf and allowing Taylor Rodgers and Alex Breeden to round home.
 
USA sophomore center fielder Stephanie Pilkington scored both runs against Nicholls State in the night cap after going 2-for-4 in the contest with a team-leading third triple. Freshman Amanda Minahan was 2-for-3 against the Colonels with an RBI double.
 
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).