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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 24 University of South Alabama softball exploded in the second and fourth innings to defeat Evansville, 10-2, on Sunday on the final day of the 2015 Mardi Gras Invitational at Jaguar Field.
 
With the win, USA (7-2) sweeps the tournament for the third year in a row, now 14-0 over the past three seasons at the annual event. The Jaguars opened this year's edition with a walk-off win over Oklahoma State on Friday, while defeating both Lipscomb and Butler on Saturday.
 
The Jaguars extend their current winning streak to six games.
 
Sophomore Amanda Minahan led USA at the plate on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Lisle, Ill., native delivered a three-run triple that aided a five-run bottom-of-the-second for USA versus Evansville.
 
Minahan finished the weekend 5-for-15 (.333) with six RBI, five runs scored, a home run, an .800 slugging percentage and .412 on-base percentage. For her efforts, she was named the 2015 Mardi Gras Invitational Most Valuable Player.
 
Junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington joined Minahan on the all-tournament team after leading USA at the plate with a .556 batting average. Pilkington was 5-for-9 hitting with four runs scored, a pair of RBI and a .750 on-base percentage after drawing seven walks in four games over the weekend.
 
Freshmen pitchers Kalen McGill and Devin Brown were also selected to the all-tournament team, with the former going 2-0 with seven strikeouts to one walk and only one run (earned) allowed on five hits in 10 innings, and the latter also going 2-0 with 25 strikeouts in 11 innings.
 
As a team, USA batted .387 at the tournament with slugging and on-base percentages of .585 and .515, respectively. The Jaguar pitching staff held opposing batters to a .187 average.
 
Mardi Gras Invitational MVP
Amanda Minahan, OF, USA
 
Mardi Gras Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kalen McGill, P, USA
Devin Brown, P, USA
Amanda Minahan, OF, USA
Stephanie Pilkington, OF, USA
Danielle Riddle, 1B, OSU
Shelby Davis, OF, OSU
Brittany Elmore, OF/IF, Lipscomb
Laura Dukes, C/IF, Lipscomb
Alex Kotter, SS, Butler
Haylee Tracy,IF,  Evansville
 
Evansville struck first on Sunday, scratching a run across in each of the first two innings. Leadoff Abbi Fahse reached on a Jaguar fielding error and came around on a wild Kaleigh Floore pitch in the top of the first, and Mariah Ferguson doubled the visitor lead an inning later on Samantha Fleming's sacrifice fly to left field.
 
The Jaguars answered back with five runs in the bottom of the second, which began with Minahan's three-run triple. Senior first baseman Amanda Herron led off the frame with a single, and freshman Kristian Foster, in her first collegiate start, joined her on the bases with a hard-hit double to left center. After freshman Haleigh Lowe drew a walk, junior third baseman Emily Messer roped a liner to second base for the second out. Minahan then lifted her shot to the wall in right center, plating Herron, Foster and Lowe to put USA ahead, 3-2.
 
Sophomore Chloe Rathburn then hit to deep right field, and an Evansville fielding error allowed Pilkington and Minahan to come around, pushing USA's lead to 5-2.
 
The Jaguars put up four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with Pilkington's RBI single that scored Minahan, who led the frame off with a double to right center. After Rathburn reached on a fielder's choice and senior left fielder Blair Johnson walked, Herron cleared the bags with a three-run blast over the left field wall to extend USA's lead to 9-2.
 
The run-rule was put into effect in the bottom of the fifth when Pilkington rounded home on an Evansville throwing error, which put the Jaguars ahead eight runs. The Lake City, Fla., native drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a Rathburn single to right center. Evansville catcher Morgan Lambert attempted to throw Rathburn out at first, but her throw went well wide of the target which allowed Pilkington to score.
 
"We've been trying to get that big inning," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We've left runners on and bases loaded recently, and I thought today, when you look at the line score, you see a five-run second inning and four-run fourth. That's the difference in the game, and that's the kind of offense we've got to have."

Floore gave up both runs (one earned) on one hit in two innings. Brown moved to 4-1 with the win after striking out eight to one walk and allowing two hits in three innings. Evansville's Amanda Blankenship too the loss, falling to 1-5 after giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits in 2 2/3 innings. Reliever Samantha Fleming gave up five runs (four earned) on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
 
Clark also commented on the play of freshmen Kristian Foster, Haleigh Lowe and Taylor Bahos, who reached in each of their plate appearances this weekend.
 
"As a head coach, you're giving that opportunity, waiting to see what they'll do with it," she said. "They've been working their tails off, and to see them take that opportunity and have some great at-bats is awesome. I'm proud of them for taking advantage of their opportunities, and they were big in the win today."
 
South Alabama is schedule next to take on Nicholls State in Thibodaux, La., on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.

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).