GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of South Alabama softball split its two Saturday games at the 2016 Aquafina Invitational after defeating Illinois State, 4-3, and falling 9-0 to No. 1 Florida at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on the campus of the Gators.
USA (10-7) moves to 2-1 at the event after defeating Florida A&M, 7-3, on Friday. The Jaguars close the weekend with a 8 a.m. (CST) clash with Florida International on Sunday. Links to live stats and play-by-play audio can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page.
In-game Twitter updates are provided for each USA contest via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
The Jaguars manufactured three runs in the final two innings to overcome Illinois State, after the Redbirds used a three-run fourth inning to go ahead, 3-1. Kirsti Merritt went 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored to lead top-ranked Florida to a shutout win over USA Saturday afternoon.
Destin Vicknair (5-1) picked up her fifth win of the year after striking out a season-high-tying nine Illinois State batters to only two walks, scattering six hits and allowing three runs (all earned) in six innings. Devin Brown earned her first save of the season after throwing one shutout relief inning.
Brown (5-5) suffered the loss against Florida after giving up five runs (all earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and five walks in four innings. Vicknair struck out three batters in as many innings of relief, giving up four runs (all earned) on five hits with four walks.
The pair combined to strike out nine batters, the most dealt to the Gators all season.
"I was happy to see Devin and Vicknair pounding the strike zone," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "They executed the game plan we gave them, and they controlled what they could control. For us, we've got to keep working – taking steps forward. We're still not playing our best softball, so we've got to keep working until it clicks."
South Alabama 4, Illinois State 3USA opened its account in the top of the third when Kristian Foster singled down the left field line to score Emily Messer, who drew a leadoff walk in the inning.
Illinois State (5-13) scratched three runs across in the bottom of the fourth to take a two-run lead on Riley Strandgard's two-RBI base hit to right center and Abby Turczyn's sacrifice fly to center field.
The Jags put up a two-spot in the top of the sixth when Alex Breeden singled through the right side to plate Haleigh Lane, and Savanna Mayo scored on Redbird reliever Sarah Finck's wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3.
USA went ahead, 4-3, on Haleigh Lowe's single to second base, which plated Kaleigh Todd, who led off with an infield single.
Todd and Lowe each finished 2-for-3 to lead the Jaguars at the plate. Both teams finished with seven hits.
Finck suffered the loss after giving up one run (earned) on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Starter Ali Domkuski went 5 1/3 innings, striking out five to six walks and allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits.
South Alabama evened its all-time record versus Illinois State to 1-1 with the win.
South Alabama 0, No. 1 Florida 9The Gators (19-0) scored in all but two innings on Saturday, beginning with a two-spot in the opening frame. Taylore Fuller was hit by Brown's pitch with the bases loaded to send Kelsey Stewart around, and Merritt's infield single allowed Nicole DeWitt to score, as UF took a 2-0 lead.
South Alabama left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first – USA was the designated home team on Saturday – after Messer singled and Stephanie Pilkington and Lowe each walked.
Florida doubled its lead to 4-0 in the top of the third, beginning with Janell Wheaton's leadoff solo home run to left field. Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.
The Jaguars grounded into double plays in the third and fourth innings to bookend Florida's fifth run – Amanda Lorenz's first career home run – in the top of the fourth.
UF tacked its sixth run on the board in the top of the sixth inning on Merritt's base hit through the right side, which scored Fuller, who got on with a one-out triple.
After the Jags went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Florida posted a three-run seventh inning to go ahead, 9-0, on RBI singles from DeWitt and Lorenz and a bases-loaded walk to Taylor Schwarz.
Five total Gators finished with multiple hits, as Florida outhit the Jags, 13-6, in the game. Messer led all USA batters on 2-for-4 hitting, the senior recording her 10
th multiple hit game of the year.
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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