STARKVILLE, Miss. – Dayla Gulledge drove in a pair of runs in the third inning, Devin Brown pitched 6 1/3 shutout innings, and University of South Alabama softball staved off a late Mississippi State rally at Nusz Park on Tuesday, as the Jaguars snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory to close out the 2016 road season.
 
USA (27-16) outhit the Bulldogs, 7-4, on the night, with six total Jaguars recording hits, led by Amanda Minahan, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gulledge finished 1-for-2 with two RBI, and Stephanie Pilkington scored what would later prove to be the game-winning run.
 
Brown improved to 16-10 with the victory after striking out five Bulldog batters against three walks with one run (earned) allowed in the complete-game effort.
 
"This was a huge win for us on the road, and I'm proud of our kids for bouncing back after last weekend," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "Our biggest goal coming into [tonight's game] was just to compete and play ball. I thought that's exactly what they did.
 
"Devin gave us a great performance on the mound, and we got timely hitting. We've just got to lock into this and keep it moving forward."
 
Mississippi State (24-24) starter Alexis Silkwood suffered the loss after allowing two runs (both earned) with five strikeouts, a walk and a hit batsman. Reliever Cassady Knudsen struck out two Jaguar batters in a brief appearance in the top of the fifth after a leadoff single from USA's Kaleigh Todd.
 
Holly Ward finished the game for Mississippi State, forcing a groundout in the top of the seventh.
 
Both teams loaded the bags in the second inning, but Brown and Silkwood each kept things level early on, until the Jaguars broke through with two away in the top of the third. Pilkington and Minahan each got on with base hits, and Gulledge sent a double down the left field line to put the Jaguars ahead, 2-0.
 
Mississippi State shortstop Kayla Winkfield led off the bottom of the seventh with a double to right field and scored on Amanda Ivy's RBI groundout to cut the Jaguar lead to a run, but Brown forced a pair of pop ups to end the contest.
 
Winkfield led the Bulldogs at the plate on Tuesday, going 1-for-1 with three walks and a run scored. Mackenzie Toler, Emily Heimberger and Loryn Nichols recorded a hit apiece for Mississippi State.
 
Gulledge, the freshman designated player from Rehobeth, Ala., near Dothan, has driven in four of USA's last five runs, dating back to her solo home run against No. 4 Alabama on April 20. She credits her recent production to time spent practicing under assistant coach Kristina McCain and her teammates for getting on base.
 
"Coach McCain tells me all the time to just see the ball," Gulledge said. "We all pitch in to produce these runs; without Minahan and Pilkington reaching, I could not have driven in those runs. Tonight, it felt good to beat a good team like Mississippi State and to do it as a team. We competed for every pitch, and that was great team win."
 
The Jaguars improved to 5-3 all-time versus Mississippi State and 3-1 versus the Bulldogs in Starkville.
 
All that remains of the USA regular-season schedule is a doubleheader versus Kennesaw State this Saturday and a three-game series against Troy to close out Sun Belt Conference play on May 7-8. South Alabama hosts the SBC Tournament, beginning on May 11 at Jaguar Field.
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJagua,rSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).