MOBILE, Ala. – Though University of South Alabama softball's season ended earlier in 2016 than it has in the past four years – the Jags were left out of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011 – head coach Becky Clark was positive in her summation of the year, highlighting a school-record Sun Belt Conference winning streak and the sustained contributions of a handful of key players.
 
USA, which celebrated its 10^th season this year, finished 33-18 (17-6 SBC) with Clark, the program's only head coach, leading the Jags past the 30-win milestone for the seventh time. Clark recorded her 500^th career win in the final series of the year versus Troy.
 
After beginning the season 5-0, the club won only five of its next 15, before reeling off 22 victories in the final 27 games of the regular season, including a 14-game winning streak in SBC play. The feat earned the Jaguars a two-seed at the 2016 SBC Tournament, which was played in Mobile.
 
"Our winning streak in conference play was huge for us, and it gave us the opportunity to go into the Sun Belt Tournament with a bye through the first round," Clark said. "Because of our conference tournament format, it's important that you get the job done during the regular season to give yourself a better chance. I think that winning streak is something that our student-athletes can look back on and be proud to have accomplished. But, I think we all agree that we have to take advantage of the position it puts us in come tournament time."
 
The Jaguars were shut out, 5-0, by No. 3 seed Texas State, which swept USA in three games in San Marcos less than a month earlier, before eliminating No. 8 seed Louisiana-Monroe with a 5-3 win in the same day. South Alabama, champions in three of the previous four SBC Tournaments, including last season's, were knocked out by No. 4 seed Georgia State, 3-2, after a late rally fell short.
 
Hitting
Among others, senior third baseman Emily Messer played her part in South Alabama's attempt to repeat as SBC Tournament champs, earning all-tournament honors for the third time in her career after recording four hits in three games at the event with three walks and two runs scored.
 
Messer was a constant threat at the plate for USA all season as the leadoff, earning NFCA All-South Region honors in her swan song after batting .429 on the year, the highest single-season average of any Jaguar before her. On her heels was sophomore second baseman Kaleigh Todd, who, along with Messer, earned a spot on the all-SBC first team after hitting .415 on the year, the second-best of any Jaguar in program history.
 
Additionally, Messer's 76 hits were the most in South Alabama single-season history, and she tied junior Amanda Minahan's 2015 record of five triples in a year. Todd boasted the program's second-best single-season on-base percentage (.495), with Messer just behind (.487).
 
Messer became the third Jaguar to be drafted professionally in the last three years when the Akron Racers selected her 31^st overall in the 2016 National pro Fastpitch Draft in April.
 
"Messer and Todd gave us a great one-two punch at the top of the order," Clark said. "Their athleticism and speed made them two of the top offensive threats in the conference. When you look at their numbers, it is impressive that they were able to sustain over the course of the season."
 
Jaguar freshman outfielder Haleigh Lane, of Jasper, Ala., and senior catcher Stephanie Pilkington combined for 60 RBI as the driving force behind Messer and Todd. Each batted over .300 on the year and scored 27 and 28 runs, respectively. Sophomore shortstop Kristian Foster drove in 27 runs and drew the second-most walks on the team with 24 free bases.
 
Injuries to 2015 starters Haleigh Lowe and Amanda Minahan early in the season, and again, late, for Lowe, caused USA to struggle in progression, but the pair contributed heavily to the Jaguar lineup during the conference campaign.
 
In only 32 games played, Lowe drove in 28 runs on 30 hits with a .460 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage, landing her a spot on the all-SBC second team. Minahan recorded 27 hits, including a team-high five home runs, and a .490 slugging percentage in the last 35 games of the year.
 
"Obviously, we had out fair share of injuries this year, and I think the reality is that they do have an effect, but I don't think you can use them as an excuse. Injury is part of the game, and it's going to happen. That reality makes it imperative for those who may not be in the everyday lineup to be ready when their name is called. Ultimately, as a coach and player, you have to control what you can control and go out on the field and compete."
 
In addition to Lane, Dayla Gulledge arose as a freshman contributor, recording 16 hits in 26 starts with 16 RBI and 12 runs scored. The Rehobeth, Ala., native hit the first Jaguar grand slam since the 2013 season when she supplied a four-run blast in USA's 9-0 win against Kennesaw State late in April.
 
Pitching
NFCA All-South Region and first-team all-SBC selection Devin Brown led a Jaguar pitching staff that finished with a 2.12 ERA. Brown set program single-season records in strikeouts (324), strikeouts per seven innings (10.97)  and shutouts (11), while tossing double-digit strikeouts in 20 of her 38 total appearances. The Mobile, Ala., native went 20-12 in the circle with a team-low 1.66 ERA.
 
Junior Destin Vicknair, a transfer from LSU-Eunice, finished 13-5 with a 2.52 ERA and three shutouts. Vicknair walked only 28 batters in 119 1/3 innings pitched and won six-straight games from March 19 to April 16. The Reserve, La., native went 6-2 in SBC play with a 2.59 ERA and only 12 walks allowed in 51 1/3 innings.
 
Sophomore Abby Tincher, a transfer from Liberty, made only three appearances before her season was cut short due to injury.
 
Overall, the Jaguar pitching staff boasted a 2.12 ERA with 427 strikeouts and only 102 earned runs in 336 total innings under first-year coach and former standout player Hannah Campbell. The collective shut out 14 opponents and held opposing batters to a .204 average.
 
"We had a lot of new faces in the bullpen this year, including a new pitching coach," Clark said. "When you have that many new people, there is always an adjustment period, as everyone is learning the new system. I feel like, this year, our pitching staff gave us a chance to win every game. Obviously, Abby Tincher's injury kept her out of the rotation, so it will be nice to have her healthy next year.
 
"I think Devin and Destin did a great job carrying the load, and I look forward to what they are able to accomplish next season," added Clark. "We will go into next year with more depth and overall experience on the mound."
 
South Alabama loses three seniors to graduation: Messer, Pilkington and fifth-year senior Alex Breeden, who recorded 22 hits and 18 RBI in 45 games. Of the 19 student-athletes on roster at the end of this season, 16 return for 2017, and Clark is confident those returnees, some recovering from injury, and an influx of new talent will make the Jaguars a contender for the league title, as has become customary.
 
"Going into next year, I know that we will have more depth, which is huge. Some of that will be from getting people healthy. Adding Bailey Murphy, a quality left arm, in the bullpen and having Abby back after surgery will be a boost to what is already a very talented and experienced pitching staff.
 
"Offensively, we will be bringing in some proven power bats and some speed," she added. "Getting MC Nichols back from surgery and adding her speed to the lineup helps. Lowe and Minahan, two of our best offensive players, will be back healthy. The graduation of Breeden, Messer and Pilkington will mean competition for spots on the infielder corners and behind the plate.
 
"We have some young ladies coming in who can really swing the bat and have great mentalities, as well. I don't think anyone was happy with the way our season ended this year, so we know we have work to do over the summer to make sure we are ready to have a productive fall. The first few weeks of fall are important to me, because I am waiting to see who worked this summer and came in ready to compete from day one."
 
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).