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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 24 University of South Alabama softball recorded wins over Lipscomb and Butler by scores of 4-1 and 9-4, respectively, to extend its current win streak to five games on Saturday at the 2015 Mardi Gras Invitational at Jaguar Field.
 
USA (6-2) will look to sweep the tournament for the third season in a row on Sunday when it faces Evansville at 12:15 p.m.
 
Links to live video and stats can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle @USAJagsSoftball.
 
Sophomore Chloe Rathburn led the Jaguars at the plate on Saturday, going 4-for-6 with a pair of runs and RBI. The Mission Viejo, Calif., native slugged 1.333 and held an on-base percentage of .714. She recorded her first homer of the season in USA's first contest versus Lipscomb, which put the Jaguars on the board, 2-0, in the first frame.
 
Senior left fielder Blair Johnson and junior third baseman Emily Messer each went 3-for-7 and combined for three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Freshman pitchers Devin Brown (3-1; 2.30 ERA) and Kalen McGill (2-0; 0.51 ERA) each recorded wins on Saturday, with the former striking out eight to five walks and allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits in four innings against Butler, and the latter striking out three to no walks and allowing only a single run (earned) on four hits in seven innings.
 
Brown now has 46 strikeouts in six appearances on the year, which places her ninth all-time in the category at USA. The Mobile, Ala., native has pitched 24 1/3 innings thus far this year.
 
The Jaguars outhit its Saturday opponents, 17-9, and outscored them, 13-5. USA batted .333 as a team with a .529 slugging percentage and .469 combined on-base percentage. The Jaguar pitching staff, which also included senior Kaleigh Floore, who threw three innings of shutout ball versus Lipscomb, held its opponents to a .191 average at the plate.
 
"Devin wasn't as sharp as she usually is [versus Butler], but she did enough to keep us in the game," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "Kalen came in and did a great job of closing the door. Our hitting was there today – we drove the ball. We've just got some things in terms of baserunning that we've got to clean up. We're looking to have that big inning sooner in the game. We're going to come out tomorrow and hope to clean up some things on the bases."
 
Game One – No. 24 South Alabama 4, Lipscomb 1
Rathburn delivered a two-out, two-run shot to left center that put USA up, 2-0, in the bottom of the first inning. Messer came around to score on the homer after leading off with a single through the right side.
 
Johnson's two-run triple to center field in the bottom of the third plated junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington and Rathburn, who each drew two-out walks, to double USA's advantage to 4-0.
 
Lipscomb scratched a run across in the top of the sixth when Laura Dukes supplied a two-out RBI single up the middle that scored Gracey Aguirre, who reached by fielder's choice.
 
Johnson was 2-for-2 in the contest with a pair of RBI, while Rathburn was 1-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Messer was 1-for-3 with a run. McGill picked up her second win of the season, striking out one to no walks and allowing only one run (earned) on three hits. Starter Floore went three frames, allowing no runs on three hits, while walking three.
 
Lipscomb's Kelly Young took the loss, falling to 2-2 on the year after giving up four runs (all earned) on as many hits, while striking out a pair to five walks.
 
Game Two – No. 24 South Alabama 9, Butler 4
South Alabama reeled off a six-run bottom-of-the-second to jump in front of the Bulldogs in game two. After starter Ambry Turpen issued walks to seniors Kaitlyn Griffith and Amanda Herron, Kacey Starwalt entered the circle for Butler and walked senior Alyssa Linn to load the bases.
 
After freshman second baseman Kaleigh Todd lined out, Messer drove in a pair on a double to center field to make it 2-0 USA. Sophomore Amanda Minahan followed with a two-run double of her own to extend South Alabama's lead to 4-0. Pilkington drew a walk and Rathburn singled off the pitcher to load the bags again, and Minahan put USA up, 5-0, when she slid home on a wild Starwalt pitch.
 
Batting for the second time in the same frame, Griffith delivered a single that plated Pilkington from third to put the Jaguars ahead, 6-0, after two complete.
 
Butler answered by scratching across a pair in the top of the third to cut into the lead, 6-2. Sarah Gronowski drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, easily rounding home on Alex Kotter's subsequent infield single. Alyssa Lach later lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kotter.
 
USA added a run to its tally in the bottom of the fourth on Johnson's RBI double, which plated pinch-runner Gwen Jones, who entered the base paths in place of Rathburn, who led off USA's half with a double to left center.
 
Again, the Bulldogs answered by scoring a pair, this time in the top of the fifth after Brown walked the first two batters she faced in the inning. After McGill took her place in the circle, a Kotter single scored Katelyn Cahill to cut USA's lead to 7-3. Later in the frame, Lach laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Brandyce Sallee to score from third, making it 7-4.
 
The Jaguars extended their lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the sixth when freshman Haleigh Lowe, after producing an infield single in her first collegiate at bat, scored on classmate Kristian Foster's single. It was also Foster's first career plate appearance. Messer then grounded out to second, which allowed Linn, who singled through the right side, to round home.
 
Brown secured her third victory of the year with the win. Butler's Starwalt fell to 0-1 with the loss after giving up seven runs (all earned) on 12 hits, while striking out three to four walks. Starter Turpen gave up a pair of runs on one hit and walked four USA batters.

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).