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Mardi Gras Invitational Tournament Central

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MOBILE, Ala. – The No. 20 University of South Alabama softball team begins the 2014 campaign with its annual Mardi Gras Invitational, held at the newly-renovated Jaguar Field, on Thursday, Feb. 6 – Sunday, Feb. 9.
 
USA will face No. 21 UAB to kick off the tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m., before taking on Syracuse twice, as well as McNeese State and Austin Peay through the weekend.
 
The Jaguars return seven starters from a historical 2013 season, in which the club recorded its most wins and fewest losses ever with a 48-9 record. USA secured its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament title en route to hosting its first-ever NCAA Regional.
 
Returning to the circle this year for the Jaguars are senior Hannah Campbell and junior Farish Beard, who combined for the nation's third-best ERA, a 1.43. The former was named USA's first-ever All-American, while the latter produced a perfect 23-0 record a year ago.
 
The Jaguars welcome six newcomers to the 2014 squad, following the exit of graduating seniors Brittany Fowler, Britany Campbell, Meghan Collins and Jessica Dobson, as well as transfer Haley Fagan, who left for Auburn after last season.
 
This weekend will mark the fourth edition of USA's Mardi Gras Invitational. The Jags are 8-4 all-time in the tournament.
 
USA head coach Becky Clark, in her eighth year coaching at USA, ninth with the university, explained that her team's approach to the season will remain the same as it has throughout its history, despite the club having been recognized nationally in the form of its first-ever preseason top-25 ranking.
 
"We've been working really hard on how we play at South Alabama, what we stand for and how we play the game" Clark said. "I want [the student-athletes] to compete and compete together. We've talked a lot about playing as a unit."
 
On expectations leading into the season for the back-to-back SBC Tournament champions, Clark said, "We have certain expectations placed on us now that we haven't had in the past, because we were a younger program and just getting started. With the success we've had, there comes visibility and expectations .I think that's awesome. We don't shy away from that.
 
"We've worked hard for people to expect things from us – I think we've earned that. We want to play the game the right way, so it doesn't' matter what our preseason ranking is. We've just got to continue taking care of the little things. If we do that, I think we can put together a pretty good season," she added.
 
Scouting No. 21 UAB
The Blazers return 11 letterwinners from a historical season in which the club secured the Conference USA regular-season title and advanced as far as the NCAA Gainesville (Fla.) Super Regional, also a program first.
 
The club made its fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and had six players earn all-CUSA accolades, while four individuals made the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mideast Region Team.
 
UAB defeated UCLA twice and top-seed Louisville at the Cards' own Louisville Regional to win before falling to No. 2 Florida in two one-run losses to finish the year 40-19, marking the program's first 40-win season.
 
The Blazers finished the year ranked 29th in the NCAA RPI poll.
 
Senior left-hander Lannah Campbell, an all-CUSA first-team pick, is the twin sister of USA starter Hannah.
 
USA leads the all-time series with UAB, 7-2, having defeated the Blazers twice last year by a combined score of 11-2.
 
"We know [Thursday's] game will be a great game," said Clark of USA's matchup with the Blazers. "They're a great team – an NCAA Super Regional team last year. They have two senior pitchers that we know are very capable and have a lot of ability. We know we're going to face good pitching.
 
"[UAB head] Coach [Marla] Townsend's teams always play hard – they play the game the right way. We know that we're going to have our hands full."
 
Scouting Syracuse
Syracuse returns 10 letterwinners from a year ago, a season in which SU finished 23-29, bowing out in the first round of the Big East Tournament to eventual-champion Louisville, 12-3.
 
The Orange softball team was not without wins over top-ranked opponents, however, the club downing No. 4/5 California, No. 11 Louisville and No. 24 South Florida in the regular season.
 
Three members of the SU roster were tabbed to the CUSA's second and third team in 2013, including Shirley Daniels, Jasmine Watson and Corinne Ozanne. Both Daniels and Watson earned second team honors, while Ozanne earned a spot on the third team, marking the first all-conference honors for each member of the trio.
 
'Cuse hit 58 total homers in 52 total games last season.
 
The Orange holds the all-time advantage over USA, 2-0, after the Jaguars fell to SU twice at the LSU Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, La., on March 6, 2010, by scorelines of 4-3 and 5-3.
 
Scouting McNeese state
The Cowgirls return 14 letterwinners from a 2013 season that saw the club finish 38-15 and atop the Southland Conference, in which it produced a 19-5 record before falling to Southeastern Louisiana in the league tournament. The 38 wins tied for the most in program history.
 
McNeese State third-year head coach Mike Smith was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year last season after leading the Cowgirls to their third conference regular-season title and first outright since 1983.
 
Five Cowgirls were named to the all-SLC team.
 
USA fell to the Cowgirls, 7-0, in the teams' only meeting, which took place in Louisiana on March 17, 2010.
 
Scouting Austin Peay
Austin Peay returns 10 letterwinners from a 2013 season in which the club finished 18-26 and 9-17 in Ohio Valley Conference play under first-year head coach Stephanie Paris.
 
 Lauren de Castro and Kayla Davidson earned all-OVC honors for APSU last season.
 
South Alabama owns a 3-0 all-time series advantage over Austin Peay, having defeated APSU by a combined score of 25-5 in three meetings.
 
"We know we've got good teams coming in [this weekend]," added Clark. "This weekend gives us a chance to finally see somebody different after all the scrimmages and intrasquads. I think we're just excited to get started. We've got the massive facility improvements, so that adds to the excitement."
 
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).