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MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball junior pitcher Devin Brown tied a season-high with 12 strikeouts Friday night as the Jaguars defeated Butler, 2-0 their opening game of the Mardi Gras Invitational held at Jaguar Field.

South (6-1) will take on Murray State (2 p.m.) and McNeese State (7 p.m.) on Saturday and Jackson State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Live stats for every game of the Mardi Gras Invitational can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com, while Sunday's game against JSU will be live streamed on JagNation TV.  Fans can purchase tickets Friday-Sunday and that ticket will cover all games played on that particular day.  Tournament seating is $15 for reserved seating and $10 for general admission.

Brown (3-1) recorded her fourth complete game of the season in as many starts and her third shutout.  She now has 35 complete games and 16 shutouts for her career, which each rank fourth on the Jaguar career charts.  In her seven innings of work, Brown allowed just one hit, the only base runner of the game for Butler.   After that two-out first-inning hit, Brown would continue her dominance as she would sit down the next 19 Bulldog batters.

The Mobile, Ala., native recorded two or more strikeouts in four of her seven innings of work, striking out the side in the first.

Jaguar right fielder MC Nichols recorded her third multi-hit outing with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.  Amanda Minahan, Savanna Mayo and Kristian Foster also had a hit in the win.  Along with Foster, Minahan registered her team-leading 10th RBI of the season.  

Gabbi Schnaitror dropped to 2-2 on the season with the loss for Butler (3-4).  Schnaitor allowed five hits, walked four and struck out four in her six innings of work.  Sallee Brandyce recorded the lone hit for BU against Brown.

South Alabama finally broke through the second time through the order as Foster blasted a one-out solo shot down the leftfield line that stayed just inside the foul pole, giving the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.  The homer was the junior shortstop's first of the season and the second of her career.

"I had just go done talking with [assistant] coach [Kristina] McCain and one thing that she told me was see the ball, especially when a high-pitcher tries to throw a spinner by you," Foster said.  "You have to just keep your eyes locked in and have a nice swing.  [Schnaiter] threw me middle-in, which is what I was looking for and I just went with it."

The Jaguar added another run in the bottom half of the inning, the damage coming with two out.  Nichols singled off BU shortstop's glove to provide the spark – her second hit of the contest.  Minahan then followed with a RBI-double to left that rolled all the way to the wall, scoring Nichols from first.

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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