MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball dropped a pair of contests at its own 2016 South Alabama Invitational on Saturday.
The Jaguars (7-6) lost to Dartmouth, 12-7, in a slugfest before being shut out by Wichita State pitcher Katie Malone in a 3-0 game two defeat. USA is now 1-2 at the event after Friday's 5-0 win over Bowling Green and will look to even its record on the weekend when it faces Dartmouth again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
"We're not going to make any excuses," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We have some people out of the lineup, but at the end of the day we've got a job to do. We've got to come in and play ball. We've got to swing the bats, we've got to make pitches, and we've got to play solid defense. It's a simple game; we've got to play with fundamentals, and we've got to compete. If we do that, then we'll be okay."
Links to live stats, video and ticket information for Sunday's contest can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided for each contest via the program's official account, @USAJagsSoftball.
USA 7, Dartmouth 12USA twice took the lead versus Dartmouth (1-3) in game one, before the Big Green pulled away by scoring 11 runs over the final four innings. Kaleigh Todd's triple to left center scored Emily Messer, who led off with a double, to put USA ahead, 1-0, in the first inning.
Brianna Lohmann answered with an RBI single to center field to plate Kelsey Miller, as Dartmouth pulled even in the top of the second. Haleigh Lane's base hit in the bottom of the third once again gave the hosts a one-run lead, but the Big Green put up a five-spot in the top of the fourth by way of Kathy Dzienkowski's bases-loaded walk and Katie McEachern's grand slam.
USA scratched a pair of runs across in the bottom of the fourth to cut the visitor lead to two runs, 6-4, but Dartmouth scored another four runs in the top of the fifth, beginning with Miller's RBI single. Dzienkowski then doubled to score Miller, and then scored behind Maddie Damore on a Jaguar throwing error.
Paige Holmes and Lane scored when Savanna Mayo reached on a Big Green fielding error, as USA pulled to within four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Karen Chaw doubled to right center to score Morgan Martinelli in the top of the sixth, and Martinelli supplied an RBI single to score McEachern an inning later to put Dartmouth ahead, 12-6. Mayo doubled to right center in the bottom of the seventh to score pinch-runner Megan Harris to cut the Jag deficit to five runs.
Dartmouth outhit USA, 13-9, and won despite committing four errors. South Alabama committed two errors in the game.
Martinelli and Miller each recorded three hits and combined for five runs, followed by Chaw's two hits. McEachern supplied four RBI in the contest and scored twice. Dzienkowski scored two runs and drove in two.
For USA, Lane and Mayo each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored apiece.
Morgan McCalmon earned her first win of the season after striking out eight to three walks with seven runs allowed (three earned) on nine hits.
USA starter Destin Vicknair suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 after allowing seven runs (all earned) on as many hits in four innings with four strikeouts, two hit by pitches and a walk. Reliever Abby Tincher gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits with five walks in three innings.
USA 0, Wichita State 3Malone carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning versus USA in the night cap, before Mayo got on with a leadoff single to left field.
Wichita State (7-6) struck in the first inning on Liz Broyles's RBI single to right field, which scored Brittany Fortner, who singled with two outs on the board.
Cassidy Kelsheimer lifted a solo homer to left field in the top of the fifth to double the Shocker lead to 2-0. Cacy Williams's RBI triple – only the second USA has given up all year – plated Paige Luellen for the final three-run margin.
Malone (1-3) earned her first win of the season after striking out a pair to two walks and scattering three Jaguar hits.
Devin Brown fell to 3-4 on the year giving up three runs (all earned) on five Shocker hits, while tying her season high with 11 strikeouts to two walks. It was the fourth time this season Brown has struck out 11 batters and the third appearance in a row that she's done so.
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).
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