MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball manufactured a two-run fifth inning to cut into Georgia State's lead, but Panther pitcher Amanda Chance retired six of the final seven batters she faced, as the Jags fell, 3-2, and were eliminated from the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Jaguar Field on Friday.
 
USA (33-18) dropped a 5-0 decision to Texas State on Thursday, but advanced to play on Friday by eliminating Louisiana-Monroe with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
 
South Alabama put at least one runner on base in each of the first six innings versus GSU (33-27), but stranded nine total in the contest, batting 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The decisive hit evaded USA in both its losses at the league tournament this week, as the Jags left 26 runners on base in three games.
 
Sophomore second baseman Kaleigh Todd and freshman left fielder Haleigh Lane led USA at the plate each going 2-for-4. Senior third baseman Emily Messer went 1-for-3 with a run. Lane and sophomore shortstop Kristian Foster recorded an RBI apiece.
 
USA starter Devin Brown suffered the loss, falling to 20-12, after giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits with two strikeouts against four walks in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Destin Vicknair threw three innings of shutout relief with three strikeouts and two hits allowed.
 
Chance picked up her fourth save of the season after tossing 2 2/3 shutout innings with a strikeout and one hit allowed. Starter Katie Worley improved to 17-9 with the win, striking out a pair of Jags to four walks and allowing two runs (both unearned) on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.
 
GSU sophomore catcher Ivie Drake finished 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the third inning. Morgan Brown went 2-for-3 with a run, and Taylor Anderson went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
Georgia State went ahead, 2-0, in the top of the third on Drake's 16^th home run this year, after Anderson was hit by a pitch.
 
The Panthers tacked on what would become the decisive run in the top of the fifth when Anderson sent an RBI single up the middle to plate Brown, who led off with a base hit.
 
Brown could've been put out on the previous play, but Foster mishandled Messer's throw for the force out at second after Taylor Bradley's bunt.
 
The Jaguars answered by cutting GSU's lead to a run a half-inning later when Lane singled off the glove of Worley to score Messer with the bases loaded. Foster then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Stephanie Pilkington, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
 
USA's fate now lies in the hands of the NCAA Tournament selection committee, which will reveal the 64-team field of postseason participants  on Sunday, May 15 on ESPNU at 9 p.m. CT.
 
South Alabama has advanced to the final of an NCAA Regional in each of the last four years. The Jags have earned the SBC's automatic bid after winning the SBC Tournament in three of those four years (2012, '13, and '15) and receiving an at-large bid in 2014.
 
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).