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MOBILE, Ala. – No. 25 University of South Alabama softball kicked off the 2016 season with a 4-0 win over in-state foe UAB at Jaguar Field on Thursday.
 
USA (1-0) sophomore right-handed pitcher Devin Brown struck out 11 Blazer (0-1) batters in a complete-game victory. The Mobile, Ala., native limited the visitors to only three hits and twice escaped bases-loaded jams.
 
"We were consistent all throughout the game," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We got in some tough jams, but worked our way out of them, and we kept our composure. Devin pitched a great game. Eleven strikeouts to one walk is a big deal."
 
Seven different Jaguar batters each recorded a hit on Thursday. Senior catcher Stephanie Pilkington led USA with a pair of RBI and a walk. Her first RBI gave USA a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when she plated freshman Megan Harris from third. Harris pinch ran for sophomore left fielder Haleigh Lowe, who led off the frame with a triple down the right field line.
 
The Jaguars tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, keyed by freshman right fielder Haleigh Lane's walk and back-to-back bunt singles from senior third baseman Emily Messer and sophomore second baseman Kaleigh Todd.
 
Junior center fielder Amanda Minahan sent a chopper to UAB third baseman Danii Fernandez, and the Blazer infielder bobbled the catch, allowing Lane to score by error to double USA's lead to 2-0. After Lowe reached on a fielder's choice that saw Messer thrown out at home, Pilkington drew a bases-loaded walk to score Todd.
 
Sophomore shortstop Kristan Foster then grounded out to Blazer shortstop Caitlin Attfield, allowing Minahan to score to make it 4-0.
 
"We talk about the big inning," said Clark. "To put up the three spot was kind of the nail in the coffin. We wanted to hit the ground running on the first night, and I thought we did a good job with that."
 
UAB loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings, but Brown shut down the visitor push both times. In the fourth, a one-out JoJo Fallen walk preceded Madison Millsaps's two-out single, and Kelly Britt reached on a fielder's choice to fill the bags; however, Brown forced Blazer designated player Mary Warren into a pop up to end the threat.
 
Brown gave up a leadoff double to Ashley Johnson an inning later and hit Analyse Petree with a pitch in the next at-bat. Fernandez got on with a bunt single to load the bags, before Brown forced Attfield into a fielder's choice that allowed Foster to throw out Johnson at home, and then struck out Sara Bath Williamson swinging.
 
Madison Hir (0-1) took the loss for the Blazers after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
 
South Alabama moves to 10-2 all-time versus the Blazers, 5-1 in Mobile.
 
USA returns to action this weekend when it competes in four games at the 2016 Sand Dollar Classic, hosted by The Fieldhouse, at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The Jaguars open play at the event on Friday at 6 p.m. versus Lipscomb.

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).