GULF SHORES, Ala. – No. 25 University of South Alabama softball scored 20 runs on 18 hits, while allowing no runs on only six hits in two shutout wins on Saturday at the 2016 Sand Dollar Classic, hosted by The Fieldhouse, at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
 
The Jaguars defeated Ball State, 8-0, and Central Arkansas, 12-0, in a pair of mercy-rule victories. USA wraps up play this weekend on Sunday with a noon clash versus Southeastern Missouri State.
 
"Today was a great day," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "Both of those teams are top teams in their conference. It starts in the circle. Our pitchers threw strikes, and we cleaned up some things defensively from last night. Offensively, we had a great approach against both pitchers we faced."
 
Emily Messer continued her blistering start to the season, finishing the day 4-for-6 with four runs and an RBI. Haleigh Lowe drove in five runs on three hits Saturday, including her second career home run, in addition to drawing a pair of walks. Stephanie Pilkington plated four runs on three hits, including her fifth career homer. Kaleigh Todd and Paige Holmes each recorded three RBI, and Savanna Mayo scored three runs and hit her first collegiate home run.
 
Devin Brown and Destin Vicknair each picked up their second wins of the season, the former striking out nine versus Ball State against three walks in six innings and the latter fanning six to no walks in five frames.
 
No. 25 South Alabama 8, Ball State 0 (6 inn.)
The Jaguars (4-0) scored in all but one inning versus the 2015 Mid-American Conference champions, beginning in the second frame on Lowe's leadoff solo blast.
 
USA scratched a pair across to go ahead, 3-0, in the third inning when Pilkington supplied a two-run homer to straightaway center, scoring Messer, who got on with a bunt single.
 
South Alabama loaded the bases in the fourth inning to set up Pilkington's infield RBI single, which scored Mayo. Megan Harris then scored on a wild pitch to put USA up, 5-0, before Lowe singled to first base to plate Messer.
 
Todd drew a bases-loaded walk to score Holmes in the fifth inning, and Tucker Caraway, pinch-running for Lowe in the sixth inning, came around on Holmes's base hit to make it 8-0.
 
Messer, Pilkington and Lowe each recorded a pair of hits in the contest. Pilkington drove in three runs, while Lowe plated a pair. Messer scored twice.
 
Ball State (1-3) pitcher Nicole Steinbach took her first loss of the season after giving up seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts in five innings. Reliever Carolyn Wilmes gave up one run (earned) on a hit with a walk in one frame.

No. 25 South Alabama 12, Central Arkansas 0 (5 inn.)
The entirety of USA's damage against the 2015 Southland Conference champions in the third inning, which took 31 minutes to complete.
 
Mayo's solo bomb led things off, and Messer came around on Todd's single up the middle to put USA up, 2-0. Kristian Foster's RBI base hit scored Todd, and Holmes's two-run double plated Foster and Lowe for a 4-0 Jaguar lead.
 
Haleigh Lane, who previously reached on a fielder's choice, scored on the second UCA error of the inning to give USA its fifth unanswered score.
 
Messer then drew a bases-loaded walk to score Holmes, and Todd delivered another RBI single to bring Mayo around. Pilkington drew a bases-loaded walk of her own to score Harris, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning to make it 9-0.
 
Lowe's bases-clearing double provided the Jags their final scores, with Pilkington, Todd and Messer all crossing home.
 
Vicknair retired six of the final eight batters she faced to seal the victory.
 
Messer, Todd and Mayo each finished with a pair of hits and runs in the game. Lowe drove in three runs, while Todd and Holmes recorded two apiece. Seven total Jaguars combined for 10 hits in the contest.

Shivaun Landeros (1-1) suffered the loss for UCA after allowing nine runs (three earned) on seven hits with a walk. Nicole Fullilove threw 1 1/3 innings and gave up three runs (none earned) on as many hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

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).