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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 22 University of South Alabama softball defeated Georgia Southern, 7-2, in Sunday's Sun Belt Conference series finale, which was called in the bottom of the fifth inning after a 40-minute rain delay.
 
USA (31-7, 14-3 SBC) completes its fourth consecutive league series sweep, increasing its winning streak in SBC play to 13 games. South Alabama moves to 16-4 at home this year and has now won 15 of its last 16 contests.
 
The Jaguars claimed both contests in Saturday's doubleheader versus the Eagles, 7-0 and 11-0, winning the second via mercy rule, powered by senior right-hander Farish Beard's third-career no-hitter.
 
Beard was credited with Sunday's win in 3 1/3 starting innings, while freshman Kalen McGIll, who picked up a complete-game victory in game one, recorded her fourth save of the year, which stands as the third-most in South Alabama program history.
 
Jaguar senior shortstop Kaitlyn Griffith led the club on 2-for-3 hitting with three RBI and two runs scored, including a home run in the fourth inning that put USA ahead, 6-2. The homer was Griffith's 11^th on the year, which ties the single-season school record. Now with 26 home runs in her career, she is two shy of tying former standout Christin Crocker's career standard.
 
Junior third baseman Emily Messer was also 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, including an inside-the-park home run in the third inning. It was a first for Messer and the first for any Jaguar since former center fielder Britany Campbell accomplished the feat on Feb. 17, 2013, versus Central Arkansas at Jaguar Field.
 
"It was good for us to play in those types of conditions today and figure it out, because those are the kinds of things that you may face in the postseason," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We started a little bit slow but picked it up at the end.
 
"The game was called after we loaded the bases, so you're optimistic, thinking something big was about to happen there, too," she added. "Overall, I thought it was a good day for us; we took a step forward. We're a better team because of today."
 
Georgia Southern jumped ahead, 2-0, in the top of the third before USA reeled off seven unanswered before heavy rains moved into the area.
 
Emily Snider put the Eagles on the board with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line, which plated Alesha Mann, who walked, and Kaitlyn Johnson, who singled to led the inning off.
 
The Jaguars answered with three runs a half-inning later. Messer sent a screamer down the left field line and raced around the bags to score USA's first run. Griffith drove in freshman Kaleigh Todd, who pinch ran for classmate Kristian Foster, who walked, with a double to left field as the Jaguars knotted scoring, 2-2.
 
Sophomore Chloe Rathburn then singled to left field to score Griffith from third after the latter stole to put USA ahead, 3-2.
 
The Jags scratched three more across to go ahead, 6-2, in the fourth inning, beginning with a wild Kierra Camp pitch that scored Messer from third. Griffith's then lifted her seventh homer over the last 10 games to right center, also scoring junior catcher Stephanie Pilkington on the play.
 
Pilkington drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth to score senior first baseman Amanda Herron, who led off the frame with a single up the middle, followed by Messer's walk and a Foster hit by pitch, before the rain delay was put into effect.
 
USA outhit the Eagles, 9-4, in the finale and took advantage of one Georgia Southern error.
 
With the win, which improved her record to 8-2 this season, Beard moved to 6-0 in SBC play after she struck out two to three walks and gave up two runs (both earned) on only two Eagle hits in 3 1/3 innings. McGill scattered a pair of hits in 1 2/3 innings.
 
Heather Felt suffered the loss for Georgia Southern, falling to 2-7 on the year after allowing three runs (all earned) on five Jaguar hits with a strikeout and four walks in 2 1/3 innings. Camp gave up four runs (all earned) on as many hits with three walks in a pair of relief innings.
 
USA is scheduled to visit Mississippi State on Wed., April 15 in an SECNetwork+ broadcast midweek contest. Links to live stats, ticket information, video streaming and play-by-play audio can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.

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).