HATTIESBURG, Miss. – No. 21 University of South Alabama softball's 11-game winning streak was brought to an end after the Jaguars fell, 1-0, at Southern Mississippi on Wednesday.
 
Mallory Hayden's fourth-inning RBI single to right center scored Peyton Garner, who pinch ran for Katie Cleary after the latter led off the frame with a base hit, to give Southern Miss its third victory in 20 games.
 
USA (32-8) was shut out for the first time since its March 24 loss to No. 1 LSU and held to a similar hit total, as the Jaguars mustered only a pair to the Eagles' five on the night. South Alabama stranded seven runners and failed to capitalize on three USM errors.
 
Danielle Block earned the win for Southern Miss, improving to 6-8 on the year after striking out six Jaguar batters to only two walks and scattering the pair of hits in a complete-game effort. USA freshman right-hander Kalen McGill suffered her second loss of the year, falling to 14-2 after allowing one run (earned) on five hits with a strikeout.
 
Jaguar senior Farish Beard gave up a walk in one shutout relief inning.
 
Sophomore designated player Chloe Rathburn and senior first baseman Amanda Herron recorded a double and single, respectively, to account for USA's only hits on the night, while junior third baseman Emily Messer reached on each Eagle error.
 
Cleary was 2-for-3 on the night, while Hayden was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
USA left two runners aboard in the first inning and one apiece over the next six frames. The Jags led off the top of the seventh with back-to-back walks, but pinch-hitter Taylor Bahos went down swinging, and Messer lined into a game-ending double play.
 
South Alabama hosts North Dakota State this weekend in a three-game set at Jaguar Field. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., and the series will culminate with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Senior Day festivities will take place before the first game on Saturday.
 
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).