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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 19 University of South Alabama softball scored in all but one frame of its five-inning, 8-0, mercy-rule defeat of Georgia State at Jaguar Field on Friday to open the Sun Belt Conference series with the Panthers.
 
A Saturday doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. concludes the three-game league set. Live stats, ticket information and a link to play-by-play audio, provided by Braden Cheek free-of-charge as part of Jaguar All-Access, can be found on the softball schedule page.
 
The Jaguars (33-8, 10-4 SBC) outhit Georgia State (24-22, 7-6 SBC), 8-2, in the contest and capitalized on a pair of Panther errors to record their eighth run-rule victory this season and third in league action.
 
South Alabama moves to 14-0 at home with Friday's victory. The shutout is USA's 15^th this year.
 
USA freshman right fielder Amanda Minahan was 2-for-3 with three RBI, a walk and a run scored. It marked her fourth three-RBI performance this season. Junior catcher Alex Breeden was also 2-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Junior left fielder Blair Johnson hit safely for the fourth game in a row after she put the Jaguars up, 1-0, in the bottom of the first with a solo homer over the left field wall. Sophomore third baseman Emily Messer and junior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith each recorded a hit and scored a run.
 
Chloe Rathburn hit safely for the eighth game in a row, and Alyssa Linn scored two runs. Taylor Rodgers also scored a run.
 
Senior left-hander Hannah Campbell moved to 14-4 on the year after striking out four to no walks and allowing only a pair of Panther hits.
 
Breeden drove Minahan in from second with a two-out single down the left field line to double USA's advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
 
The Jaguars then posted three runs apiece in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to pull away from the Panther after Campbell retired 12 of GSU's first 14 batters. With runners on the corners and two outs, Stephanie Pilkington reached on a fielding error by GSU starter Kaitlyn Medlam that allowed Linn, pinch-running for Rathburn, who led off the inning with a double, to score from third for a 3-0 USA lead.
 
Minahan then ripped a double that fell feet from going over the wall in left field to score Messer, who singled previously, and Pilkington to make it 5-0 Jaguars.
 
An inning later, Linn scratched another run across after drawing a leadoff walk and scoring on a wild Taylor Thorpe pitch. GSU left fielder Morgan Brown then let slip Rodgers's bloop to shallow left, which allowed Griffith, who doubled before, to make it 7-0. Rodgers then scored USA's eighth and final run after Minahan drew a bases-loaded walk to enact the mercy rule.
 
Medlam took the loss after giving up five runs (two earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Thorpe gave up three runs (two earned) on one hit in 1/3 innings, and Emily Clay dealt walks to all three batters she faced.
 
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).