2015 Carolina Classic Tournament Central

Game Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – The No. 24 University of South Alabama softball team takes part in the 2015 Carolina Classic this weekend in Columbia, S.C., where it will face Charleston Southern, Tennessee State, Marshall and the host South Carolina Gamecocks.
 
The Jaguars take on Charleston Southern at 2 p.m. on Friday, Tennessee State at 9 a.m. on Saturday and both Marshall and South Carolina at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. All times listed are Central and subject to change, as delays are possible.
 
Links to live stats will be included on the Jaguar softball schedule page shortly before each contest. In-game updates are provided via the program's official Twitter handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
 
Sunday's game versus South Carolina will be broadcast by SEC Network+. A link for access to video content, supported by WatchESPN.com, has also been included on the Jaguar softball page.
 
USA (11-3) has won 10 of its last 11 contests since dropping two of its first three in a span which included losses to No. 3 Alabama and Eastern Kentucky, bookending an 8-0, run-rule victory over Liberty.
 
The Jaguars reeled off 11 straight wins from Feb. 7 to Feb. 20 in a run that ended with a 3-1 loss to Chattanooga at the 2015 South Alabama Invitational in Mobile last weekend, but USA answered that blemish with three straight victories over Ball State, Sam Houston State and Jacksonville, producing 27 runs versus the trio.
 
Junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington leads USA at the plate with a .472 batting average, .583 slugging percentage and .642 on-base percentage. The Lake City, Fla., native has reached in all 14 Jaguar contests this year, aided by 17 hits and 15 walks. Sophomore Chloe Rathburn equals Pilkington's hitting output with 17 on the year and leads the club with 13 RBI.
 
Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith earned Sun Belt Conference Player-of-the-Week honors on Monday after she recorded nine RBI and a .933 slugging percentage last week. Griffith tied South Alabama game records when she hit two home runs and tallied six RBI in USA's 14-6, run-rule victory over 2014 Mid-American Conference champion Ball State on Feb. 21.
 
The Jags are batting .334 as a team, outscoring opponents, 80-32, and outhitting them, 122-59. USA owns a .455 overall slugging percentage and .447 on-base percentage. South Alabama's pitching staff is holding opponents to a .180 batting average.
 
Freshman Kalen McGill is 5-0 in the circle this year with a 1.75 ERA, having allowed only six earned runs in 24 innings. Classmate Devin Brown is 5-2 with two saves and 97 strikeouts in 49 innings.
 
Charleston Southern (9-4) enters the weekend having won four of its last five contests, including a pair of victories over North Carolina A&T and a defeat of UNC Wilmington, while splitting two games with Tennessee Tech. The Buccaneers will be playing away from home for the first time this year at the Carolina Classic. Marci Christian and Cheyenne Gandara have combined for 25 Buccaneer RBI and 12 home runs. Gandara is also 5-3 in the circle with a 3.02 ERA, while Jennifer Giles is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.
 
Tennessee State (3-4) has won three straight games, including a pair of victories over Alabama A&M and a 4-1 defeat of Memphis. The Nashville, Tenn., club has played only once since Feb. 13, as inclement weather kept it from hosting the Tiger Classic last weekend. Taylor Shimizu leads the Tigers at the plate with a .368 batting average. Lindsey Burgess has hit a pair of home runs and top the team in RBI with six in seven games.
 
Marshall (11-3) most recently went 3-2 at the USF Wilson DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, Fla., last weekend, recording two victories over Dartmouth, while splitting a pair with host South Florida. A late rally versus No. 16 Auburn fell short at the event, with the Tigers escaping with a 5-4 win. Morgan Zerkle leads the Herd with a .569 batting average, having thus far recorded 29 hits with a .706 slugging percentage and .589 on-base percentage. Shaelynn Braxton has supplied 17 RBI. Jordan Dixon is 10-3 in the circle with a 2.97 ERA and 114 strikeouts to 21 walks in 78 2/3 innings.
 
South Carolina (11-4) went 3-2 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif., last weekend with wins over LIU-Brooklyn, Stanford and No. 21 California. This weekend's hosts went 4-0 at their own Gamecock Classic on Feb. 13-14 with victories over Appalachian State (Sun Belt Conference), Presbyterian, North Carolina and College of Charleston. Alaynie Page leads the Gamecocks at the plate with a .471 average, having recorded 24 hits and 22 RBI with six home runs and a .922 slugging percentage. Nickie Blue is 11-7 in the circle with a 0.95 ERA, thus far allowing only eight earned runs in58 2/3 innings, while Julie Sarratt is 9-8 with a 2.89 ERA.
 
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).