Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Box Score - South Alabama 8, Murray State 3 (Game 1).pdf
Box Score - South Alabama 1, McNeese State 0 (Game 2).pdf
Mardi Gras Invitational Tournament Central

MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama softball team remained perfect at home Saturday as the Jaguars swept their two games at the Mardi Gras Invitational held at Jaguar Field, defeating Murray State 8-3 in the opener and McNesse State 1-0 in eight innings in the nightcap.

"In both games, I thought we had great pitching," South Alabama head coach Becky Clark said.  "[Destin] Vicknair made some adjustments as she was going throughout the game.  I thought she did a great job keeping them off balance and getting swings and misses.

"Against McNeese State with Devin [Brown], it was a pitcher's duel. I'm proud of her because she pitched out of some jams and defense came in clutch in some big places with plays at the plate.  There were a lot of places where the game could have gone the other way; Devin and our defense worked out of it.  It's huge to get the big win on your home field against a quality team and you have to feel good about that."

South Alabama (8-1) will now take on 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, and Sunday's game against JSU will be live streamed on JagNation TV.  Fans can purchase tickets and that ticket will cover all games played on that particular day.  Tournament seating is $15 for reserved seating and $10 for general admission.

GAME ONE: SOUTH ALABAMA 8, MURRAY STATE 3

Kristian Foster was one of three Jaguars to record multiple hits in the opening game of the day for South Alabama as the junior shortstop was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBI and a run scored.  The four hits by Foster were a new career high, while her three runs driven in tied a career best set two previous times during her career, the last coming against Appalachian State on March 26 of last season.

Foster is also the first Jaguar hitter to record four or more hits in a game since Emily Messer did so last season with five against Southern Mississippi (2/21/16).

MC Nichols was also 2-for-2 with a walk, a RBI and a run scored.  Kaleigh Todd also recorded a multi-hit performance for USA with a run and a stolen base.  Eight of the nine Jaguar starters in the lineup registered at least one hit and no South player in the lineup recorded a strike out against the Racers.

Destin Vicknair (4-0) went the distance for South as she allowed three runs – two earned – on eight hits and struck out four.  

Murray State (6-2) was led at the plate by Jessica Twaddle and Leah Kesel, who each had two hits apiece.  Twaddle was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored, while Kesel was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored as well.

Mason Robinson suffered her first loss of the season, dropping to 4-1.  Robinson lasted just 2.1 innings and allowed five runs – all earned – on eight hits.  Amber Van Duyse entered in relief in the third and went the rest of the way, allowing five hits, three runs and four walks in her 3.2 innings of work.  

South Alabama scored two runs on four hits in the bottom of the first.  Todd and Nichols led off the inning with infield singles.  With one out in the inning, Abby Krzywiecki lined a doubled down the leftfield line that bounced off the bag at third and into shallow leftfield, scoring Todd from second.  USA posted its second run of the inning with two outs, as Foster singled through the left side of the infield, plating Krzywiecki to give the Jags a 2-0 lead.

The Racers were able to push across three runs on three hits and a Jaguar error in the top of the third to take a 3-2 lead.  Kesel reached on a leadoff single back up the middle and then with one out, Fink worked a walk.  The two Murray State base runners then advanced up a base on a wild pitch by Vicknair.  Twaddle then drove a 2-2 pitch to left for a double which scored Kesel and Brenna Fink.  Murray State added another run to take the lead on the next at-bat as Twaddle scored on a single from Taylor Odom and a Jaguar fielding error in left.

The Jaguars didn't let Murray State hold the momentum long as they retook the lead in the next half inning, scoring five runs on five hits.  Nichols singled back up the middle – her third-straight multi-hit game – and Amanda Minahan then reached on a single of her own.  Krzywiecki then flew out to right to move both runners into scoring position and Foster then singled back up the middle with her second hit of the contest, scoring Nichols and Minahan.  After a walk by Haleigh Lane greeted Van Duyse with a walk, the sophomore leftfielder then came around to score on an RBI single by Savanna Mayo.  USA added two more runs on a RBI single to center by Haleigh Lowe.

South Alabama added an insurance run two innings later as it loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a bunt single by Todd to begin the fifth.  Nichols then recorded a sacrifice fly to left to score Lowe who had reached with a five-pitch walk to start the frame, giving USA an 8-3 advantage.

From there, the Jaguars would hold on to pick up the five-run victory.

GAME TWO: SOUTH ALABAMA 1, MCNEESE STATE 0 (8 inn.)
The nightcap proved to be a pitcher's duel as neither starter allowed a run in regulation.  After both teams had several chances late, Mayo's RBI-bases-loaded single in the eighth gave USA the 1-0 victory.

Devin Brown was outstanding in the circle as she went the distance and improved to 4-1 on the year.  In her 8.0 innings of work, Brown allowed just three hits and struck out 12 for the second-straight game and third time this season.  

Rachel Smith (1-2) suffered the loss as she also went the distance, allowing four Jaguar hits and eight walks, in addition to her four strikeouts.

McNeese (5-5) threatened to break into the coring column first in the top of the third loading the bases after a single and a pair of walks, but Brown battled back with a pair of strike outs for the final two outs of the inning.  The Jag right-hander painted the inside corner to retire Morgan Catron and then got Taylor Schmidt swinging for her sixth strikeout of the night to end the threat.  Two pitches earlier, Schmidt had just missed a grand slam as her ball was ruled just outside the leftfield foul pole.

It was the Jaguars turn in the bottom half of the inning to threaten as they loaded the bases with one out, but McNeese's Smith was able to get Krzywiecki swinging to end the frame.

Marisa Taunton – who was 2-for-2 in the game – walked with one away in it McNeese's half of the fifth and moved to third on a stolen base and a throwing error, but Brown was able to get Cowgirl All-American Erika Piancastelli to foul out to Jaguar catcher Aly Smith and Catron to fly out to Minahan in center.  

Both teams threatened to end the game in regulation with scoring opportunities in the seventh.  In the top half of the inning, McNeese had three runners reach.  However, the Jaguar defense came up big in the inning as USA retired pinch runner Lauren Brown was thrown out at third on a 7-6-5 relay on a double by R. Smith.  One batter later it was Minahan with the big throw as she gunned down R. Smith at the plate on a single back up the middle by Taunton.

In USA's half of the inning, the Jags placed a pair aboard with two out, but R. Smith was able to get a ground out at third on Todd's fielder's choice.  

McNeese had one other opportunity to break threw in extras as Piancastelli walked to begin the inning after being down 0-2 in the count and Catron the reached on a Jaguar fielding error.  The Cowgirl base runners would eventually move to second and third, but Brown came up big, recording three-straight strike outs to end the inning.

In South's bottom half of the eighth, Nichols singled through the left side of the infield and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Foster.  Krzywiecki was intentionally walked and after a strikeout, Lane worked out a walk to load the bases, setting the table for Savanna Mayo.  On the first pitch that she saw, the sophomore third baseman delivered lining a single to left to score Nichols from third and give the Jaguars a 1-0 extra-inning win.  The walk-off hit was Mayo's second of the season.

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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