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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 24 University of South Alabama softball took a 4-3 lead over No. 7 Louisiana-Lafayette in the third inning and withstood a seventh-inning Ragin' Cajuns rally after tacking on four more runs in the fifth and sixth frames to win 8-5 in game three of the teams' first Sun Belt Conference series of the year.
 
USA (16-5, 1-2 SBC) returns to winning form after dropping Saturday's doubleheader at Jaguar Field by scores of 3-2 and 9-3, securing its first SBC victory of the season.
 
Seventh-ranked ULL (17-3; 2-1 SBC) is the highest-ranked opponent USA has defeated since the Jaguars dropped the sixth-ranked Ragin' Cajuns, 3-1, on May 12, 2012, to secure the program's first-ever SBC Tournament title.
 
Jaguar senior left fielder Blair Johnson was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith was 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored, all off a home run that put USA ahead, 7-3, in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Sophomore catcher Chloe Rathburn was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, including a solo home run that put the Jaguars up, 8-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Freshmen Devin Brown (8-4) and Kalen McGill (7-0) combined for the win, with the former earning the victory after limiting the Ragin' Cajuns to three hits and as many runs (all earned) in four innings, while the latter was credited with her second save this year after scattering four hits in three frames and allowing a pair of runs (both earned).
 
ULL right fielder Lexie Elkins was the only Ragin' Cajun batter with multiple hits on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored, including a solo home run. Left fielder Shellie Landry was 1-for-3 with an RBI, run scored and a homer. Third baseman Haley Hayden chipped in with a pair of runs scored.
 
Ragin' Cajun reliever Kylee Jo Trahan (2-1) took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on one hit with a pair of walks and strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Starter Jordan Wallace went two innings, giving up three runs (two earned) with three walks on two hits. Alex Stewart allowed one run (earned) on two Jaguar hits over the final inning and two-thirds.
 
The teams traded a run apiece in the first inning, with Elkins supplying an RBI single down the left field line to score Hayden, who drew a leadoff walk, from second to put the Ragin' Cajuns ahead. Jaguar junior third baseman Emily Messer scored on a ULL fielding error to tie the contest at 1-all at half-inning later.
 
USA scratched two across to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second on junior center fielder Stephanie Pilkington's two-run single to right center, which plated Johnson and freshman Kaleigh Todd. Johnson singled through the right side to lead off, while Todd drew a walk a batter later.
 
Landry and Elkins each supplied solo homers to lead off the top of the third, as ULL answered by tying the game, 3-3, before USA regained the lead, 4-3, in the bottom half on Johnson's sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Alyssa Linn. Linn pinch ran for freshman second baseman Kristian Foster, who was hit by a Trahan pitch.
 
Griffith put the Jags ahead, 7-3, in the bottom of the fifth when she took the first pitch she saw from Trahan deep over the scoreboard in left center, scoring senior Gwen Jones, pinch-running for Rathburn, who drew a leadoff walk, and Foster, who also drew a walk.
 
Rathburn took Stewart deep with two outs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to give the Jaguars an 8-3 advantage.
 
Louisiana-Lafayette scored two runs off three hits in the top of the seventh to place pressure on the Jaguar defense, beginning with Hayden RBI single up the middle, which scored pinch-hitter Taylor Terrio, who led off with a base hit.
 
Landry then lined into a double started by Messer, who leapt to snag a sharp stroke and threw to Todd at second for a force out. Hayden then rounded home on third baseman Samantha Walsh's single to left field. After ULL first baseman Kelsey Vincent drew a walk to load the bases, McGill forced top Ragin' Cajun hitter Aleah Craighton into a groundout to end the contest.
 
South Alabama returns to action this Wednesday when it hosts Alabama State in a midweek contest scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Jaguar Field. Ticket information can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page.
 
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).